Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Extremely good, excellent, or wonderful: Used to describe something of outstanding quality or that causes great admiration.
   • Very great in size, degree, or intensity: Used to emphasize the extreme nature of something, often something powerful or overwhelming.

Usage and Examples

• As an adjective meaning "extremely good":
  • We had a terrific time at the concert.
  • She did a terrific job on the project.
• As an adjective meaning "very great or intense":
  • A terrific storm hit the coast last night.
  • He was driving at a terrific speed.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• Informal Intensifier: In modern, informal English, "terrific" is most commonly used as a positive intensifier, synonymous with "fantastic" or "amazing." Its original meaning of "causing terror" is now rare and mostly found in older or literary contexts.
  • That's a terrific idea! (meaning: an excellent idea)
• Ambiguity in Context: In some contexts, especially without clear cues, the word could theoretically be ambiguous between its old and modern meanings, but the positive sense is overwhelmingly dominant.
  • The explosion made a terrific roar. (This likely means a very loud, intense roar, not necessarily one that was "excellent," though the old meaning of "frightening" is also possible here.)

Variants and Related Words

• Terrifically (adverb): In an extremely good or intense manner.
  • The team played terrifically.
  • It was a terrifically difficult puzzle.
• Terrify (verb): To cause extreme fear. This verb is related to the original, now less common, meaning of "terrific."
  • The horror movie terrified the audience.

Synonyms

• Excellent, fantastic, wonderful, superb, marvelous (for the "extremely good" meaning).
• Intense, tremendous, enormous, huge, powerful (for the "very great" meaning).

Antonyms

• Terrible, awful, dreadful, poor (for the "extremely good" meaning).
• Mild, slight, insignificant, weak (for the "very great" meaning).

Notes on Meaning Shift

The word "terrific" has undergone a significant shift in common usage. It originates from the Latin terrificus, meaning "causing terror." While this original sense is preserved in the dictionary definition and can be seen in phrases like "a terrific crash," its predominant contemporary meaning is overwhelmingly positive ("extremely good"). This is an example of a word's meaning changing from negative to positive over time.

Adjective

1. causing extreme terror
   • a terrifying wail
2. extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
   • a fantastic trip to the Orient
   • the film was fantastic!
   • a howling success
   • a marvelous collection of rare books
   • had a rattling conversation about politics
   • a tremendous achievement
3. very great or intense
   • a terrific noise
   • a terrific thunderstorm storm
   • fought a terrific battle