# horrible

/ˈhɔɹəbəɫ/ (US) · /hˈɒɹɪbəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/horrible
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. very unpleasant

adjective · CEFR B1

very bad or unpleasant to experience.

For teachers: extremely unpleasant or disagreeable in nature.

- The weather was horrible all weekend, so we stayed inside and watched movies.
- The commute was absolutely horrible this morning due to a major signal failure on the main line.

### 2. shocking or cruel

adjective · CEFR B2

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

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

- It was a horrible accident, but luckily nobody was seriously hurt.
- The survivors shared horrible stories of the conditions they endured during the long winter siege.

### 3. a bad consequence

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

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

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

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

## Examples

- The weather today is absolutely horrible.
- I had a horrible headache all morning and had to stay in a dark room.
- The witness provided a horrible account of the accident, detailing the events with a level of clarity that left the courtroom in stunned silence.

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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.