annus horribilis
Britishnoun
Etymology
Origin of annus horribilis
C20: from Latin, modelled on annus mirabilis , first used by Elizabeth II of the year 1992
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Bonds, by contrast, have returned just 1.7% a year during that time frame, and are only just recovering from the annus horribilis of 2022, when they lost 13%, on average.
From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026
In a speech in November 1992, Queen Elizabeth II rued the previous 12 months as an annus horribilis.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 2, 2025
China's annus horribilis has seen its stock markets fall, funds run up losses and foreign investors run for the exit.
From Reuters • Nov. 1, 2023
It was an annus horribilis for Latino politicians in L.A.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 30, 2022
This was filmed just before her "annus horribilis" of 1992, so captures the calm before the storm.
From BBC • Sep. 9, 2022
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
