horrific

adjective

hor·​rif·​ic hȯ-ˈri-fik 

hä-

: having the power to horrify

a horrific account of the tragedy

horrifically

hȯ-ˈri-fi-k(ə-)lē 

hä-

adverb

Synonyms

• appalling
• atrocious
• awful
• dreadful
• frightful
• ghastly
• grisly
• gruesome
• grewsome
• hideous
• horrendous
• horrible
• horrid
• horrifying
• lurid
• macabre
• monstrous
• nightmare
• nightmarish
• shocking
• terrible
• terrific

Examples of horrific in a Sentence

horrific images of the devastation spurred many people to give generously

Recent Examples on the Web

This individual’s conduct and language were vile, disgusting, unacceptable, and horrific and have no place in our workplace and society. —Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 15 Jan. 2025

The horrific Palisades Fire may have started at a spot near the popular Temescal Ridge trail. —Andrew Moseman, The Atlantic, 15 Jan. 2025

The war that began with the horrific massacre on October 7th has devastated the region and led to the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians. —Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 15 Jan. 2025

Defensive line coach Andre Patterson actually had the audacity during an early December interview to blame the secondary for the team’s horrific run defense while skirting blame for the line. —Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 15 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French & Latin; French horrifique, going back to Middle French, borrowed from Latin horrificus "inspiring awe or dread, frightening," from horrēre "to be stiffly erect, bristle, shudder, shiver" + -i- -i- + -ficus -fic — more at horror entry 1

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined above