horrid

adjective

hor·​rid ˈhȯr-əd How to pronounce horrid (audio)
ˈhär-
1
: innately offensive or repulsive:
a
: inspiring horror : shocking
horrid living conditions
b
: inspiring disgust or loathing : nasty
a horrid man
c
: extremely bad or unpleasant : horrible
the tenor bell … gives out a horrid discordant noiseRobert Graves
2
archaic : rough, bristling
horridly adverb
horridness noun

Examples of horrid in a Sentence

People there are living in horrid conditions. He's a horrid little man.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Which means inflation is anti-financialization precisely because devaluation is a horrid tax on investment. John Tamny, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024 Not only that, but this is a great matchup for Brown against this horrid Jaguars defense. Matt Modi, Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024 That's the horrid reality for deaf and mute author Maddie Young (Kate Siegel), who retreats to a cabin in the woods to write her next book — only to become the target of a sadistic, taunting serial killer. James Mercadante, EW.com, 22 Oct. 2024 The horrid debates about whether rape occurred on October 7 were an argument over recognition. Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 7 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for horrid 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin horridus "bristly, rough, uncouth, shivering with cold, inspiring dread," from horrēre "to be stiffly erect, bristle (of hair, weapons, plants), shudder, shiver" + -idus, adjective suffix of quality — more at horror entry 1

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of horrid was in 1590

Dictionary Entries Near horrid

Cite this Entry

“Horrid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/horrid. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

horrid

adjective
hor·​rid ˈhȯr-əd How to pronounce horrid (audio)
ˈhär-
1
: inspiring horror : shocking
2
a
: arousing disgust : nasty
a horrid man
b
: horrible sense 2
had horrid manners
horridly adverb
horridness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on horrid

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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