Skip to the word

Added 9 October 2026

terrible

/ˈtɛɹəbəl/ adjective

In Latin: terribilis, dīrus Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about terrible at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Causing terror, alarm or fear; dreadful
The witch laid a terrible curse on him.
Formidable, powerful.
Intense; extreme in degree or extent.
He paid a terrible price for his life of drinking.

adverb

In a terrible way; to a terrible extent; terribly; awfully.

Origin

Inherited from Middle English terrible, from Old French terrible, from Latin terribilis (“frightful”), from terreō (“to frighten, terrify, alarm; to deter by terror, scare (away)”). Compare terror, deter. By surface analysis, terror + -ible. Displaced Old English atol and sliþe, while also largely overtaking grimm.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word