horrific

adjective

hor·​rif·​ic hȯ-ˈri-fik How to pronounce horrific (audio)
hä-
Synonyms of horrificnext
: having the power to horrify
a horrific account of the tragedy
horrifically
hȯ-ˈri-fi-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce horrific (audio)
hä-
adverb

Synonyms of horrific

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Examples of horrific in a Sentence

horrific images of the devastation spurred many people to give generously
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Yet due to the horrific nature of the crime and the victims’ professions as police officers, Thomas is ordered to keep his findings close to his chest. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 20 Aug. 2026 Russia is slowly edging towards its territorial goal of taking the Donbas – albeit through rendering the remaining ground held by Ukraine uninhabitable through horrific drone strikes on all signs of civilian and military life. — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026 Set in the aftermath of an unidentified conflict, the film follows Nina as she’s embroiled in a yearslong plot of subtle retaliation for her family’s horrific murder. — Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Aug. 2026 Built in 1928 by Gordon Kaufmann, and a gift from Edward Doheny to his son Ned and his family, the stately Tudor Revival was home to a horrific tragedy. — Amanda Karkoutly, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for horrific

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of horrific was in 1653

Rhymes for horrific

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Browse Nearby Words

horrid
horrific
horrifically
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Cite this Entry

“Horrific.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/horrific. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on horrific

Nglish: Translation of horrific for Spanish Speakers

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