horrible

1. 1

   A thing that causes horror; a terrifying thing, particularly a prospective bad consequence asserted as likely to result from an act.

   • Here's a carcase. I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I'll go to it laughing. Such a waggish leering as lurks in all your horribles!
   • A lot of the possible horribles conjured up by the people objecting to this convention ignore the plain language of this treaty.
2. 2

   A person wearing a comic or grotesque costume in a parade of horribles.

1. 1

   Causing horror; terrible; shocking.

   • Strangers fainted dead away at the sight of the Laughing Man's horrible face. Acquaintances shunned him.
   • Some of us have had plastic surgery on our faces and fingerprints. Right now we have a horrible job; we're waiting for the war to begin and, as quickly, end.
2. 2

   Tremendously bad.

   • Having now absorbed all or parts of 750 responses to my complaints about Transformers, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that most of those writing agree with me that it is a horrible movie.

syn. frightening · bad