terrific

[ tuh-rif-ik ]
/ təˈrɪf ɪk /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR terrific ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

extraordinarily great or intense: terrific speed.
extremely good; wonderful: a terrific vacation.
causing terror; terrifying.

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?
Question 1 of 10
decorum
the act of or need for making up one's mind.
dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of terrific

1660–70; < Latin terrificus frightening, equivalent to terr(ēre) to frighten + -i- -i- + -ficus -fic

OTHER WORDS FROM terrific

ter·rif·i·cal·ly, adverbun·ter·rif·ic, adjectiveun·ter·rif·i·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby terrific

terri, terrible, terribly, terricolous, terrier, terrific, terrify, terrifying, terrigenous, terrine, territorial
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to terrific

dreadful, great, huge, tremendous, awesome, terrible, horrible, awful, sensational, fantastic, outstanding, hot, breathtaking, magnificent, superb, marvelous, amazing, fabulous, excellent, appalling

Example sentences from the Web for terrific

British Dictionary definitions for terrific

terrific
/ (təˈrɪfɪk) /

adjective

very great or intensea terrific noise
informal very good; excellenta terrific singer
very frightening

Derived forms of terrific

terrifically, adverb

Word Origin for terrific

C17: from Latin terrificus, from terrēre to frighten; see -fic
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012