Words / A2

HOR-uh-bl/ˈhɒrəbl/

Horrible means very unpleasant or bad: horrible weather, a horrible smell, a horrible day. Terrible and awful are close in strength; bad is weaker. Horrible can describe behaviour too: he was horrible to her. Horribly is the adverb. Do not use it for mild annoyances; it sounds strong.

Meaning

Very unpleasant or bad.

Examples

• “The weather was horrible, so we stayed inside.”
• “There was a horrible noise from the engine.”
• “The soup tasted horrible, so we left it.”

Good to know

Stronger than bad. Close: terrible / awful. Adverb: horribly.

Near in meaning

terrible, awful

New