# terrible

/ˈtɛɹəbəɫ/ (US) · /tˈɛɹəbəl/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. very bad quality

adjective · CEFR A1

very bad or of poor quality.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. very unpleasant

adjective · CEFR A2

making you feel very unhappy, sick, or uncomfortable.

For teachers: causing great distress, discomfort, or unpleasantness.

- 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.

### 3. extreme or intense

adjective · CEFR B1

very great or extreme in degree.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. causing fear

adjective · CEFR B2 · Literary

causing great fear or terror.

For teachers: instilling fear, terror, or awe; formidable in nature.

- 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.

### 5. very

adverb · CEFR C1 · Informal · Dialect

used to mean 'very' or 'extremely' when talking to friends.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The weather is terrible today.
- I had a terrible headache all morning and couldn't focus on my work.
- The survivors shared terrible stories of the storm's destruction, describing how the winds leveled entire neighborhoods in a matter of minutes.

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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.