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terrific
adjective
ter·rif·ic
tə-ˈri-fik
1
: unusually fine : magnificent
terrific weather
2
: extraordinary
terrific speed
3
a
: exciting or fit to excite fear or awe
a terrific thunderstorm
b
: very bad : frightful
Synonyms
- A-OK
- A1
- awesome
- bang-up
- banner
- beautiful
- blue-chip
- blue-ribbon
- boffo
- bonny [chiefly British]
- bonnie
- boss [slang]
- brag
- brave
- bully
- bumper
- capital
- choice
- classic
- cool [slang]
- corking
- crackerjack
- cracking
- dandy
- divine
- dope [slang]
- down [slang]
- dynamite
- excellent
- fab
- fabulous
- famous
- fantabulous [slang]
- fantastic
- fine
- first-class
- first-rate
- first-string
- five-star
- four-star
- frontline
- gangbusters
- gangbuster
- gilt-edged
- gilt-edge
- gone [slang]
- grand
- great
- groovy
- heavenly
- high-class
- hot
- hype [slang]
- immense
- jim-dandy
- keen
- lovely
- marvelous
- marvellous
- mean
- neat
- nifty
- noble
- number one
- No. 1
- numero uno
- out-of-sight [slang]
- par excellence
- peachy
- peachy keen
- phat [slang]
- prime
- primo [slang]
- prize
- prizewinning
- quality
- radical [slang]
- righteous [slang]
- sensational
- slick
- splendid
- stellar
- sterling
- superb
- superior
- superlative
- supernal
- swell
- tip-top
- top
- top-notch
- top-of-the-line
- top-shelf
- topflight
- topping [chiefly British]
- unsurpassed
- wizard [chiefly British]
- wonderful
Examples of terrific in a Sentence
She's given me some terrific ideas.
Your test scores were terrific.
They did a terrific job painting the house.
I had a terrific time.
I've recovered completely. In fact, I feel terrific.
We were hit by a terrific snowstorm last week.
Recent Examples on the Web
Houston’s defense was terrific Saturday, with four interceptions of Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert and four sacks.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 13 Jan. 2025
Green Bay will now need a terrific offseason to challenge the conference’s top teams.
—Rob Reischel, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Those two performances are a microcosm of a season in which the Penguins were terrible through the first six weeks, terrific from Thanksgiving until Christmas, and since have been middle-of-the-pack.
—Rob Rossi, The Athletic, 12 Jan. 2025
Somehow the two teams managed to provide a terrific show while only combining for 26 made 3-pointers.
—Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for terrific
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Word History
Etymology
Latin terrificus, from terrēre to frighten
First Known Use
1667, in the meaning defined at sense 3b
Dictionary Entries Near terrific
Cite this Entry
“Terrific.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terrific. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.
Kids Definition
terrific
adjective
ter·rif·ic
tə-ˈrif-ik
1
: causing terror : terrible
terrific destruction
2
: very great in degree : extraordinary
a car going at terrific speed
3
: unusually good
makes terrific chili
More from Merriam-Webster on terrific
Nglish: Translation of terrific for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of terrific for Arabic Speakers
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