terrible
pronunciation
How to pronounce terrible in British English:
UK [ˈterəbl]
How to pronounce terrible in American English:
US [ˈterəbl]
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- Adjective:
- causing fear or dread or terror
- exceptionally bad or displeasing
- intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality
- extremely distressing
Word Origin
- terrible (adj.)
- late 14c., "causing terror, awe, or dread; frightful," from Old French terrible (12c.), from Latin terribilis "frightful," from terrere "fill with fear," from PIE root *tres- "to tremble" (cognates: Sanskrit trasati "trembles," Avestan tarshta "feared, revered," Greek treëin "to tremble," Lithuanian trišeti "to tremble," Old Church Slavonic treso "I shake," Middle Irish tarrach "timid"). Weakened sense of "very bad, awful" is first attested 1590s.
Example
- 1. Terrible news was in the price .
- 2. And then a terrible thing happened .
- 3. The tsunami and earthquake have done terrible damage to tohoku .
- 4. The sap gave great pleasure but also caused terrible suffering .
- 5. One day the aunt had the most terrible toothache .