horrific

[haw-rif-ik, ho-]

adjective

1. causing horror.

horrific

/ hə-, hɒˈrɪfɪk /

adjective

1. provoking horror; horrible

Other Word Forms

• horrifically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of horrific¹

First recorded in 1645–55; from Latin horrificus, equivalent to horri-, combining form of horrēre “to bristle with fear” + -ficus -fic

Related Words

• abominable 
• appalling 
• awful 
• cruel 
• disgusting 
• dreadful 
• eerie 
• frightful 
• ghastly 
• grim 
• grisly 
• gruesome 
• hair-raising 
• heinous 
• hideous 
• horrid