horrific
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
- horrifically adverb
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
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.
Human rights group Vocal Africa said the discovery was a "staggering and horrific escalation that exposes the true scale of this tragedy".
From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026
Sometimes it gets more horrific or even darkly comic.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026
“It was laughable at best, horrific at worst,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026
He noted that his email exchanges with Maxwell "took place over two decades ago, long before her horrific crimes came to light," and he never had any business dealings with Epstein.
From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026
And graceful little Alice pulled back her lips in a horrific grimace and let loose with a guttural snarl that had me cowering against the seat in terror.
From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer
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.
