Word
terrible
Phoneticster·ri·ble, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtɛɹəbəɫ/
UK/tˈɛɹəbəl/
Definitions
01very bad quality
A1 · Beginner
adj. very bad or of poor quality.
adj. of very poor quality; extremely unsatisfactory or incompetent.
“The food at that restaurant was terrible and we couldn't finish it.”
“The critics agreed that the acting was terrible, noting that the lead performers seemed to have forgotten their lines entirely.”
02very unpleasant
A2 · Elementary
adj. making you feel very unhappy, sick, or uncomfortable.
adj. causing great distress, discomfort, or unpleasantness.
Español:horrible
“I have a terrible headache and need to lie down in a dark room.”
“The family received the terrible news of the accident while they were preparing for the holiday celebrations.”
Synonyms
03extreme or intense
B1 · Intermediate
adj. very great or extreme in degree.
adj. extreme in degree, extent, or intensity; often used to describe weather or speed.
“The boat struggled to stay upright during the terrible storm.”
“The car was travelling at a terrible speed when it lost control on the icy corner.”
04causing fear
B2 · Upper Intermediate Literary
adj. causing great fear or terror.
adj. instilling fear, terror, or awe; formidable in nature.
Español:terrible
“The dragon was a terrible beast that no knight dared to fight.”
“The ancient army was a terrible sight as it marched across the plains, its banners snapping in the wind.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
05very
C1 · Advanced Informal · Dialect
adv. used to mean 'very' or 'extremely' when talking to friends.
adv. used as an intensifier meaning 'very' or 'extremely'; common in specific regional dialects.
“It is a terrible long way to the next town from here.”
“He was a terrible nice man once you got to know him, despite his grumpy appearance.”
Usage
In this sense, the word functions as an adverb modifying an adjective, though it retains the adjective form.
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *tres- Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Proto-Indo-European *troséyeti Proto-Italic *trozeō Latin terreō Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlis Proto-Italic *-ðlis Latin -bilis Latin terribilisbor. Old French terriblebor. Middle English terrible English terrible Inherited from Middle English terrible, from Old French terrible, from Latin terribilis (“frightful”), from terreō (“I frighten, terrify, alarm; I deter by terror, scare (away)”). Compare terror, deter. By surface analysis, terror + -ible.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
In Music
Terrible Lie · 1989 · Industrial rock
- Artist:
- Nine Inch Nails
- Album:
- Pretty Hate Machine
Released on the 1989 album Pretty Hate Machine, this industrial rock track by Nine Inch Nails is a fan favorite at live concerts. The title uses the headword in a figurative sense to describe a lie that is extreme in degree or intensity. It emphasizes how deeply the speaker is affected by the deception.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/terrible
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0