Synonyms terrible
terrible ▪ awful ▪ horrible ▪ dreadful ▪ vile ▪ horrendous
These words all describe something that is very unpleasant.
terrible very bad or unpleasant; making you feel unhappy, frightened, upset, ill, guilty or disapproving:
What terrible news!
That’s a terrible thing to say!
awful (rather informal) very bad or unpleasant; used to describe something that you do not like or that makes you feel depressed, ill, guilty or disapproving:
That’s an awful colour.
The weather last summer was awful.
horrible (rather informal) very unpleasant; used to describe something that you do not like:
The coffee tasted horrible.
dreadful (especially British English, rather informal) very bad or unpleasant; used to describe something that you do not like or that you disapprove of:
What dreadful weather!
vile (informal) extremely bad or unpleasant:
There was a vile smell coming from the room.
He was in a vile mood.
horrendous (rather informal) extremely unpleasant and unacceptable:
The traffic around the city was horrendous.
Patterns
terrible/​awful/​horrible/​dreadful for somebody
a(n) terrible/​awful/​horrible/​dreadful/​vile thing
a(n) terrible/​awful/​horrible/​vile smell
terrible/​awful/​horrible/​dreadful/​vile/​horrendous conditions
terrible/​awful/​horrible/​dreadful/​vile weather
terrible/​awful/​dreadful news