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
It was an annus horribilis for Latino politicians in L.A.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 30, 2022
A barrage of major central bank decisions and a critical U.S. consumer price inflation reading this week likely clear the decks in what has been an "annus horribilis" for world markets.
From Reuters • Dec. 12, 2022
The Queen described 1992 as her "annus horribilis" and, in a speech in the City of London, appeared to concede the need for a more open monarchy in return for a less hostile media.
From BBC • Sep. 8, 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.
