horrific
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of horrific
First recorded in 1645–55; from Latin horrificus, equivalent to horri-, combining form of horrēre “to bristle with fear” + -ficus -fic
Explanation
Something horrific causes horror. It’s disastrous and makes you shudder with fear. Yikes! If something horrific, like a deadly car crash, makes your hair stand up, you’re onto something. Horrific comes from the Latin word horrificus — which, if you trace it back, literally means “making the hair stand on end.” Anything horrific fills you with horror and makes you bristle. If you lose your hat, that’s a bummer. A serial killer’s rampage? That's horrific. Save horrific for things that are so scary your hair stands up, or feels like it is.
Vocabulary lists containing horrific
Commonly Misspelled Words, List 5
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Time for Kids: "Typhoon in the Philippines"
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Chapter 9: Civil War and Reconstruction, Lessons 1–2
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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.
State Governor Kathy Hochul described the attack as "an act of horrific violence."
From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026
After the IUD was placed, she remembers horrific, debilitating cramps.
From Slate • Jun. 7, 2026
Speaking on BBC Radio Wales Drive, Golley from Keep Wales Tidy said she was shocked at the "horrific" scenes across Wales.
From BBC • May 29, 2026
“This is one of the most consequential and horrific rulings that I have seen since becoming the D.A.,” said San Francisco Dist.
From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026
He heard teeth snapping open and closed, a horrific clack, clack, clack.
From "The Maze Runner" by James Dashner
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.
