horrendous times

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "horrendous times" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe periods of great difficulty, suffering, or distress. Example: "During the war, many people experienced horrendous times that left lasting scars on their lives."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"From 1985 until 1992, we went through horrendous times," Mr. Maguire said.

The New York Times

These are difficult times for fans of the Farrelly brothers, and horrendous times for fans of Owen Wilson.

The Guardian - Film

We should not now compound that error by trying to sell the public that these horrendous times of financial collapse are worthwhile.

Forbes

Although people everywhere had been so hospitable to us, we all -- Muslim and non-Muslim alike -- felt we had met a people who embodied the spirit of ilm in spite of having passed through horrendous times.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"We had a horrendous time," he said.

The New York Times

Then, during this horrendous time, I solved it.

The Guardian - Books

As a kid, until the age of 15, when I went away with my parents for the last horrendous time, family holidays in hotels were an annual event.

The New York Times

"Somerset residents have been facing a horrendous time since before Christmas, yet all they have had from ministers is government by PR.

Independent

Although BadBadNotGood and Ghostface Killah negated one of live hip-hop's perennial issues (terrible sound), the rest of the bill is blighted by another (horrendous time-keeping).

The Guardian - Music

Perhaps, to give him the benefit of the doubt, he was just trying to put on a front in what must have been a pretty horrendous time for Crewe.

The Guardian - Sport

Third, to avoid explicit storage of the system matrix arising from large-scale problems and to reduce the horrendous time complexity of the product of the system matrix with an initial vector of unknowns, the adaptive multilevel fast multipole method is applied.

Journal of Computational Physics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "horrendous times", provide specific details or examples to illustrate the severity of the situation. This adds credibility and impact to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "horrendous times" in overly casual or trivial situations. The phrase carries a strong connotation of severe hardship and should be reserved for contexts where it is truly warranted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "horrendous times" functions as a noun phrase, where "horrendous" acts as a descriptive adjective modifying the noun "times". Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "horrendous times" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase for describing periods of extreme difficulty or suffering. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness, although the phrase is relatively rare in occurrence. Primarily found in news and media contexts, it's crucial to reserve this powerful phrase for situations where the severity truly warrants it. Be mindful of overusing it in casual settings. When employing "horrendous times", consider providing concrete examples to amplify the impact and ensure clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

terrible periods

Focuses on the severity and unpleasantness of the period.

dreadful eras

Emphasizes the fear and apprehension associated with the time.

awful moments

Highlights the unpleasantness and distress experienced during specific instances.

difficult days

Simple and direct, referring to times marked by hardship.

hard years

Emphasizes a long period of struggle and adversity.

tragic episodes

Highlights the sorrow and loss associated with the events.

calamitous phases

Emphasizes the disastrous nature and turning points of the period.

challenging circumstances

Downplays severity, focusing on difficulties that require effort to overcome.

catastrophic events

Focuses on the disastrous impact of specific occurrences.

unfortunate incidents

Understates the severity, referring to negative occurrences with a sense of regret.

FAQs

How can I use "horrendous times" in a sentence?

You can use "horrendous times" to describe periods of great difficulty or suffering. For example, "The country experienced "horrendous times" during the war."

What are some alternatives to "horrendous times"?

Some alternatives include "terrible periods", "dreadful eras", or "awful moments", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "horrendous times" an appropriate phrase to use in formal writing?

Yes, "horrendous times" is appropriate for formal writing when describing periods of significant distress or hardship. However, ensure that the tone and context align with the severity of the phrase.

What makes "horrendous times" different from "difficult times"?

"Horrendous times" implies a greater degree of suffering and severity compared to "difficult times". The former suggests a truly terrible or shocking experience, while the latter simply indicates a period of challenge.