horrific
/hɔ'rifik/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Causing extreme fear, shock, or disgust: "Horrific" describes something that is so extremely bad, frightening, or shocking that it causes horror.
- Extremely unpleasant or of very poor quality: It can also describe something that is extremely bad or unpleasant in a more general sense.
Usage and Examples
Describing an extremely frightening or shocking event:
- The survivors shared horrific details of the accident.
- The documentary showed the horrific effects of the famine.
Describing something extremely unpleasant or of very poor quality:
- The hotel room was in a horrific state.
- We got stuck in horrific traffic for hours.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
"Horrific" vs. "Horrible": While both are negative, "horrific" is stronger and implies a level of shock or fear closer to "horror." "Horrible" is more general for something very bad or unpleasant.
- A horrible day (a very bad day).
- A horrific crime (a crime that causes shock and horror).
Used as an intensifier: In informal contexts, it can be used for emphasis about something very bad.
- I have a horrific headache.
Variants and Related Words
- Horror (n): An intense feeling of fear, shock, or disgust.
- She watched the movie in horror.
- Horrify (v): To cause someone to feel horror.
- The news report horrified the nation.
- Horrifying (adj): Causing horror; very shocking or frightening. (Very similar to "horrific").
- It was a horrifying experience.
Synonyms
- Appalling: Shocking and unacceptable.
- Atrocious: Extremely wicked, brutal, or cruel.
- Dreadful: Causing great fear or suffering; very bad.
- Horrendous: Extremely unpleasant, horrifying, or terrible.
Antonyms
- Wonderful: Extremely good.
- Pleasant: Giving a sense of happy satisfaction or enjoyment.
- Mild: Not severe, serious, or harsh.
Common Collocations and Phrases
- Horrific accident/crime/scene: Emphasizes the shocking nature of the event.
- Horrific conditions: Describes an extremely bad environment or situation.
- Horrific experience: An experience that was deeply shocking or frightening.
- Look/sound horrific: To appear or seem very bad.
Adjective
- causing fear or dread or terror
- the awful war
- an awful risk
- dire news
- a career or vengeance so direful that London was shocked
- the dread presence of the headmaster
- polio is no longer the dreaded disease it once was
- a dreadful storm
- a fearful howling
- horrendous explosions shook the city
- a terrible curse
- grossly offensive to decency or morality; causing horror
- subjected to outrageous cruelty
- a hideous pattern of injustice
- horrific conditions in the mining industry