horrific
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word 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.
Of the extremist settlers, Huckabee said, "If this little minority, if they think they're doing their cause a favour, they are making a horrific mistake."
From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026
"This is about managing how we are releasing individuals back into the community, regardless of the heinous or horrific crime that they may have committed," he said.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
“Actions by those who carried out this horrific act of terror meant to intimidate and harass this family are disgusting,” Huckabee said in a post on X.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
But even with these horrific allegations, he could still win?
From Slate ● Aug. 10, 2026
But that was before I knew what life was like outside the city, and it doesn’t seem as horrific as what Edith described in her message to us.
From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth
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.
