horrific

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'horrific' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You may typically use it to describe something that is causing feelings of horror or dread. For example, "The news that the convicted murderer had escaped from jail was horrific."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It's pretty horrific to push a mother to a point of saying, 'Well, if I need to sacrifice myself for my children, maybe that's what I'll do,' " she said.

The Guardian

On the evening of 31 August 1854, families living in a cluster of cramped, overcrowded houses in Soho, London, were struck by a horrific calamity.

The Guardian - Opinion

Katherine Murphy, the chief executive of the Patients Association, said the alleged ill-treatment of patients was "horrific" and reminiscent of the Mid Staffordshire scandal.

The Guardian

A Clegg aide told Wilson: "The thing that changed minds was George Osborne saying that he had seen the figures and it was quite horrific in real life as opposed to spin life".

The Guardian

Grimaldi makes a cameo appearance in Dickens's Pickwick Papers and that is really the first time when we see the clown as a horrific figure.

The Guardian

Pontius went on: "The responsibility – his alone – for so horrific a crime will, I imagine, weigh heavily upon his conscience for the rest of his life.

The Guardian

On the television in the corner, news was breaking that another body in a horrific murder case had been identified.

The Guardian

"This looks like it was just a horrific confluence of events".

The Guardian

And the more horrific the circumstances, the more needful, the more precious, the more costly is the truth".

The Guardian

"I cannot tell you how horrific of a feeling that is," she said, adding that the next thing she remembered was waking up hours later in the back of her car "practically naked".

The Guardian

Meanwhile, staff resolutely work on in a heavily protected temporary office on a floor of the French daily, Libération, coming to work between flashbacks and psychotherapy appointments, comforting the relatives of the dead and visiting the three survivors who are still in hospital being treated for horrific injuries.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "horrific" to describe events, situations, or objects that evoke a strong sense of horror, fear, or disgust. It's most effective when emphasizing the extreme negativity and impact of something.

Common error

Avoid using "horrific" to describe situations that are merely unpleasant or inconvenient. Overusing strong adjectives weakens their impact when describing truly horrifying events.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "horrific" is an adjective, used to modify nouns by ascribing to them a quality of causing horror or extreme fear. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively describes something that elicits feelings of dread or terror. Many examples from Ludwig showcase its use in news and media to describe tragic events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "horrific" is a grammatically sound adjective used to describe something causing intense horror, fear, or disgust. As Ludwig AI confirms, its primary function is to emphasize the extreme negativity of a situation. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts, conveying serious information in a neutral to formal tone. While alternatives like "horrifying" and "terrible" exist, "horrific" is particularly effective when highlighting the severe and repulsive nature of something. Remember to reserve its use for truly impactful situations to avoid diluting its effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

horrifying

Direct synonym with similar intensity and impact.

horrendous

Similar to horrific but can imply a larger scale of devastation.

atrocious

Highlights the extremely wicked or brutal quality.

gruesome

Emphasizes the repulsively or shockingly frightful nature of something.

appalling

Emphasizes the shocking and morally offensive nature.

dreadful

Similar to terrible, emphasizing the fear or apprehension caused.

hideous

Focuses on the repulsively ugly or disgusting aspect.

shocking

Highlights the unexpected and disturbing nature.

terrible

Less intense, but describes something very bad or unpleasant.

frightening

Focuses specifically on causing fear.

FAQs

How can I use "horrific" in a sentence?

"Horrific" is used to describe something that causes intense fear, shock, or disgust. For example, "The details of the crime were truly horrific."

What words can I use instead of "horrific"?

Alternatives to "horrific" include "horrifying", "terrible", "appalling", and "atrocious", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "horrific" to describe a minor inconvenience?

While grammatically correct, using "horrific" for minor inconveniences can be an overstatement. It's best reserved for situations that genuinely evoke strong negative emotions.

What is the difference between "horrific" and "frightening"?

"Horrific" describes something that causes intense horror or disgust, while "frightening" specifically relates to causing fear. Something can be frightening without being horrific, and vice versa.