# horrendous

/ˌhɔˈɹɛndəs/ (US) · /hɒɹˈɛndəs/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/horrendous
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

extremely bad, unpleasant, or shocking. You use it to describe something that is very difficult to deal with or look at.

For teachers: extremely unpleasant, horrifying, or terrible in quality. Often used to describe sensory experiences, situations, or statistics that are exceptionally negative.

## Examples

- The traffic on the way to work was horrendous.
- The victims of the storm described the horrendous conditions they faced while waiting for rescue teams to arrive.
- The report detailed the horrendous living conditions in the overcrowded refugee camps, urging immediate international intervention to prevent a humanitarian disaster.

## Usage notes

- Typically used as a gradable adjective; frequently modified by intensifiers like 'absolutely' or 'truly'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.