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

Example Sentences

The documentary shows us what’s really happening, tracking one horrific example of what administrators get away with.

From Los Angeles Times

Talking about the "horrific violence" of Thursday's attack on a synagogue in Manchester, she said "we are witnessing hatred that rises up through fractures across our communities".

From BBC

Mayor Burnham called the attack "horrific", and asked members of the public to "not let them succeed".

From BBC

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the "vile individual" who carried out the "horrific" attack, and promised to do "everything" in his power to protect Jewish people and defeat antisemitic hate.

From BBC

We all saw it with our own eyes, and there are hours of horrific video footage from nearly every possible angle.

From Salon

Related Words

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