it feels horrible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it feels horrible" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a strong negative emotional or physical sensation. Example: "After hearing the news, it feels horrible to think about what they are going through."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

It feels horrible.

The New York Times - Sports

Isn't that what you like about tweed, that it feels horrible?

The New Yorker

When you see it in print it changes, it's like a promotional tool, and it feels horrible".

The Guardian - Music

"It feels horrible to be back," said Mr. Nicolucci, a commodities trader for Barclays at the exchange.

The New York Times

Shifting Perceptions "It's a tremendous relief for the physician to prescribe something, because these kids are very tough, and it feels horrible to sit there and not be able to help," said Dr. Jennifer Mary Harris, a child psychiatrist practicing in Arlington, Mass., who has argued for more caution in using medication.

The New York Times

"We did everything apart from score, it feels horrible, but it's a good place to be in".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

"It felt horrible to be there".

The New York Times - Travel

As soon as he left I got out of my seat and went to the toilet and remember thinking: 'Your eyes have filled up with tears.' "I knew it felt horrible but couldn't work out why it felt horrible.

Independent

It felt "horrible" at first and lousy "watching my friends walking through the Olympic ceremony raising their flags while ours was denied". He did see the Kuwaiti swimmers Faye Sultan and Abbas Qali walk in under the Olympic flag, and did feel "proud to be part of their training life". He tried to sleep, but frustration wouldn't let him.

The Washington Post

It felt horrible at times but that's the beginning of the season and it is difficult.

BBC

Surprisingly it felt horrible.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it feels horrible" to express a strong, immediate, and often visceral negative reaction to something. Ensure the context clearly indicates what "it" refers to for clarity.

Common error

While "it feels horrible" is perfectly acceptable, consider more sophisticated vocabulary in formal writing. Alternatives like "it is profoundly unpleasant" or "it evokes a strong negative response" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it feels horrible" functions primarily as a subjective expression of a negative sensation or emotion. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. The word "it" acts as a placeholder for whatever is causing the negative feeling, while "feels horrible" serves as the predicate, describing the nature of that sensation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it feels horrible" is a grammatically correct and understandable phrase to express an unpleasant sensation. The phrase is most commonly found in News & Media, and Wiki contexts. While perfectly acceptable, Ludwig AI indicates that it could be substituted with other alternatives, such as "it feels terrible" or "it feels awful", particularly in more formal settings. When using the phrase, ensure clarity by explicitly stating what "it" refers to. Although its use is acceptable, it's good to keep the register in mind, and in the writing guidance we advise on not overusing it in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's really quite terrible

Emphasizes the degree of negativity with "really quite terrible".

it's an awful feeling

Uses "awful feeling" instead of "horrible" to describe the experience.

it's just the worst feeling

Uses a more informal expression to describe the feeling.

it's a wretched feeling

Replaces "horrible" with "wretched" for a stronger negative connotation.

it is a terrible sensation

Replaces "feels horrible" with a more descriptive phrase using "sensation".

it is a truly unpleasant sensation

Emphasizes the "unpleasant" nature of the feeling.

it's exceptionally unpleasant

Uses "exceptionally" to intensify the feeling of unpleasantness.

it's a dreadful experience

Shifts the focus to the overall "experience" being negative.

it's utterly unbearable

Conveys that the feeling is too difficult to tolerate.

it's extremely disagreeable

Uses a more formal term, "disagreeable", to convey the unpleasantness.

FAQs

What does "it feels horrible" mean?

The phrase "it feels horrible" is used to express a strong negative feeling or sensation, either physical or emotional. It indicates a high degree of discomfort or displeasure.

What can I say instead of "it feels horrible"?

You can use alternatives like "it feels terrible", "it's an awful feeling", or "it's a dreadful experience" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "it feels horribly"?

No, the correct phrase is "it feels horrible". "Horrible" is an adjective describing the feeling, whereas "horribly" is an adverb typically used to describe an action.

How can I use "it feels horrible" in a sentence?

You can use "it feels horrible" to describe a physical sensation (e.g., "After the surgery, it feels horrible to move") or an emotional state (e.g., "It feels horrible to know I disappointed them").