horrible

Everyday

1. Very bad or unpleasant: «a horrible smell», «horrible weather». tree →
2. Unkind or nasty: «He was horrible to me». tree →
3. Very frightening or shocking. tree →

In the lessons

In stories: a horrible villain, a horrible monster, a horrible mistake. In everyday life children say «horrible» for anything they dislike. In lessons on kindness: being horrible to others hurts them. Adverb: horribly («horribly wrong»). Similar: awful, terrible, dreadful, nasty.

Examples

• The medicine tasted horrible. tree →
• We had horrible weather on holiday. tree →
• Don't be horrible to your sister! tree →
• The witch had a horrible laugh. tree →
• I had a horrible dream last night. tree →
• The rubbish bin smells horrible. tree →
• The plan went horribly wrong. tree →

Note

Use «more horrible» or «most horrible», not «horribler». Spelling: «-ible», not «-able». Adverb: horribly. «Horrid» is a softer, more childish word with a similar meaning.

In Jewish tradition

Shocking and terrible because it is a great wrong, especially turning away from God.

Interpretation. The prophets use the word for Israel's worship of idols. They see it as something that should shock the whole world.

Examples

• An appalling and horrible thing is come to pass in the land: (Prophets JER.5.30, JPS 1917) tree →
• In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing; there harlotry is found in Ephraim, Israel is defiled. (Prophets HOS.6.10, JPS 1917) tree →
• Therefore thus saith the LORD: Ask ye now among the nations, who hath heard such things; the virgin of Israel hath done a very horrible thing. (Prophets JER.18.13, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Use «more horrible» or «most horrible», not «horribler». Spelling: «-ible», not «-able». Adverb: horribly. «Horrid» is a softer, more childish word with a similar meaning.