look horrendous

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "look horrendous" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that appears very bad or unpleasant in appearance. Example: "After the storm, the garden looked horrendous, with debris scattered everywhere and plants uprooted."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"The numbers look horrendous," Panos Moumtzis, the refugee agency's regional coordinator for Syrian refugees, told reporters.

The New York Times

"If we did, there are some exhibitions we would never do because the risks look horrendous.

The Guardian

And G.M.'s sales figures look horrendous, falling 47percentt in September.

The New York Times

As for the spending review, my fear is that it will have some gross figure for cuts that will look horrendous, but then there will be another figure, which will include whatever is decided by the Browne review.

The Guardian

When someone tells me that I look great, I have this awful involuntary reflex that makes me say, "Thanks, but there's a reason this top is flowy," or, "I'm just wearing a lot of really good concealer!" It makes me feel worse, and it makes for an awkward moment since the other person then feels compelled to argue that you don't actually look horrendous.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

"In the science world, visualisation looked horrendous.

Independent

"He looked horrendous," Hogan, a veterinarian, said.

The New York Times - Sports

Giuliani looked horrendous, his gaunt face reminiscent of the insane cartoon-eradicator in Roger Rabbit.

The Guardian - Opinion

The TRADINGSTANDARDS one looks horrendous.

TechCrunch

"It looks horrendous... it looks like a war zone.

BBC

And does it surprise anybody the promo trailer that was just released looks horrendous?

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation or data as "look horrendous", ensure the context clearly supports the severity of the statement. Provide specific details to justify the strong negative descriptor.

Common error

Avoid using "look horrendous" in everyday conversation or informal writing, as it can sound overly dramatic. Opt for milder alternatives like "look bad" or "look unpleasant" in less serious situations.

Linguistic Context

"Look horrendous" functions as a descriptor, indicating a negative visual assessment. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is grammatically sound, and the examples show it being applied to sales figures, refugee situations, and even personal appearance, emphasizing a strongly negative impression.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "look horrendous" is a grammatically correct and potent way to describe something with an extremely unpleasant appearance. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and its frequent use in news and media suggests a neutral register. While effective for conveying strong negative impressions, it's important to consider the context and audience, opting for milder alternatives in more casual settings. Ensure that specific details are provided to support the use of such a strong descriptor, reinforcing the severity of the situation or appearance being described.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

look atrocious

Substitutes "horrendous" with "atrocious", maintaining a strong negative connotation.

appear dreadful

Replaces "look" with "appear" and "horrendous" with "dreadful", keeping a similar level of intensity.

have a terrible look

Rearranges the structure to focus on the inherent look being terrible.

look repulsive

Suggests something is disgusting or causes aversion.

seem awful

Uses "seem" instead of "look" and "awful" for "horrendous", softening the negative impact slightly.

look unsightly

Implies something is unpleasant to see, less severe than "horrendous".

present a ghastly appearance

More formal and emphasizes the visual aspect of something looking very bad.

look frightening

Emphasizes the scary or alarming aspect of something's appearance.

cut a sorry figure

Idiomatic expression indicating something or someone looks to be in a bad state or condition.

give a bad impression

Focuses on the negative impression something's appearance creates.

FAQs

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

You can use "look horrendous" to describe something that appears extremely unpleasant or bad. For example, "The data on the sales report "look horrendous", indicating a significant downturn."

What are some alternatives to "look horrendous"?

Alternatives include "appear dreadful", "seem awful", or "look atrocious", depending on the context and level of formality you need.

Is "look horrendous" too strong of a phrase to use in professional writing?

While grammatically correct, "look horrendous" can be quite strong. Consider the audience and the severity of the situation. In some cases, a milder phrase like "look unfavorable" might be more appropriate.

What is the difference between "look horrendous" and "smell horrendous"?

"Look horrendous" refers to something that is extremely unpleasant in appearance, while "smell horrendous" describes a terrible odor. Each phrase refers to a different sense.