terrific
Americanadjective
-
extraordinarily great or intense.
terrific speed.
- Synonyms:
- remarkable, extraordinary
-
extremely good; wonderful.
a terrific vacation.
- Synonyms:
- excellent, fine, remarkable, extraordinary
-
causing terror; terrifying.
adjective
-
very great or intense
a terrific noise
-
informal very good; excellent
a terrific singer
-
very frightening
Other Word Forms
- terrifically adverb
- unterrific adjective
- unterrifically adverb
Etymology
Origin of terrific
1660–70; < Latin terrificus frightening, equivalent to terr ( ēre ) to frighten + -i- -i- + -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.
Yet another says that while the first film had its "propaganda intent ...wrapped in pacy racy story telling with terrific musical flourishes", the sequel is simply not as enjoyable.
From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026
And that would be terrific news for the estimated 5,000 Americans turning 65 every day and thinking of handing in their notice.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 24, 2026
What a terrific first-year performance for the versatile guard who averaged 26.6 points and 6.4 rebounds.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 22, 2026
Gosling is typically terrific, but “Project Hail Mary” is practically tailor-made for his brand of disarming allure.
From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026
He’d been having all the adventures, he was going to come home with terrific stories about being in the army and fighting and all that, and I wanted to have something to tell, too.
From "My Brother Sam is Dead" by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
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.
