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horrible

adj. · n.
US //ˈhɔɹəbəɫ// UK //hˈɒɹɪbəl// hor·ri·ble
  1. 1 very unpleasant (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    very bad or unpleasant to experience.

    extremely unpleasant or disagreeable in nature.

    Example

    The weather was horrible all weekend, so we stayed inside and watched movies.

    Example

    The commute was absolutely horrible this morning due to a major signal failure on the main line.
  2. 2 shocking or cruel (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    causing a feeling of horror because something is very cruel or shocking.

    evoking horror, shock, or intense fear; often used to describe crimes or accidents.

    Example

    It was a horrible accident, but luckily nobody was seriously hurt.

    Example

    The survivors shared horrible stories of the conditions they endured during the long winter siege.
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  1. 3 a bad consequence (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Formal Technical Law

    a very bad thing that might happen in the future as a result of a choice.

    a prospective bad consequence or terrifying possibility; often used in the phrase 'parade of horribles'.

    Example

    The lawyer listed every horrible that could happen if the new law passed.

    Example

    The judge dismissed the argument as a mere parade of horribles that lacked any grounding in the actual text of the statute.

    Usage

    Usually used in the plural form 'horribles' within legal or political rhetoric.
Origin

First attested in Middle English (alternately as horrible and orrible) in 1303: from Old French horrible, orrible, orible, from Latin horribilis, from horr(ēre) (“tremble”) + -ibilis (“-ible”).

Word family

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