horrific

adjective

hor·rif·ic hȯ-ˈri-fik

hä-

Synonyms of horrific next

: having the power to horrify

a horrific account of the tragedy

horrifically

hȯ-ˈri-fi-k(ə-)lē

hä-

adverb

Examples of horrific in a Sentence

horrific images of the devastation spurred many people to give generously

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.

Goldberg's words come over a year after The View began an unrelenting battle with gaseous entities, following a horrific water spillage (and mysterious fart noise of unknown origin) that plagued the Hot Topics table in January 2023. —

EW.com, 5 Nov. 2024 Travis and Jason are clearly very close with one another, and the fan that hurled such a horrific thing led to Jason reacting in a very angry manner. —

James Brizuela, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024 And, prior to that, she was forced to sit out her first season at Oregon after transferring from the University of Texas following a horrific leg injury. —

Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024 More details are emerging of the devastation in the Valencia region, with residents reporting large amounts of damage and horrific encounters with the rapidly rising water. —

Lauren Kent, CNN, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for horrific

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French & Latin; French horrifique, going back to Middle French, borrowed from Latin horrificus "inspiring awe or dread, frightening," from horrēre "to be stiffly erect, bristle, shudder, shiver" + -i- -i- + -ficus -fic — more at horror entry 1

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of horrific was in 1653

See more words from the same year