more terrible than

USAGE SUMMARY

"more terrible than" is correct and usable in written English.
You would use this phrase to compare two things that are similar, but one is worse than the other: "The storm was more terrible than last year's, with higher winds and more flooding."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Kirk has also written three books, including More Terrible Than Death: Massacres, Drugs and America's War in Colombia (PublicAffairs) and The Monkey's Paw: New Chronicles from Peru (University of Massachusetts Press).

Duke University

Kirk is the author of three books, including More Terrible Than Death: Massacres, Drugs and America's War in Colombia (PublicAffairs) and The Monkey's Paw: New Chronicles from Peru (University of Massachusetts Press).

Duke University

"As long as there is demand, there will be supply," writes Robin Kirk in More Terrible Than Death, an account of her 15 years on the ground in Colombia with the Human Rights Watch.

Vice

More terrible than he does I would guess.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Could anything ever be more terrible than losing her child?

The Guardian

Nothing is more terrible than these processions of human beings going like dummies to their death".

The New Yorker

The wars of peoples will be more terrible than the wars of kings".

The New York Times

Like the next war, the next sales campaign is going to be more terrible than ever.

The New Yorker

Sometimes, the aftermath of war can be more terrible than the conflict itself.

The Guardian - Books

Ruined buildings, for instance, are perhaps more terrible than dead bodies: "The dead were discreet.

The New Yorker

War proved more terrible than either Andrew or Nicholas has expected.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "more terrible than", ensure that the comparison is clear and that both elements being compared are explicitly stated. This helps avoid ambiguity and strengthens the impact of your statement.

Common error

Avoid overusing "more terrible than" in overly dramatic or exaggerated situations. Opt for more nuanced language to maintain credibility and avoid sensationalizing your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more terrible than" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It modifies a noun or pronoun by indicating that it possesses a higher degree of terribleness compared to another entity. Ludwig confirms its validity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Academia

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "more terrible than" serves as a comparative adjective phrase used to express a strong negative comparison. Grammatically sound, as confirmed by Ludwig, it is most commonly found in News & Media and Academia contexts. While relatively rare in overall usage, it effectively conveys that something is significantly worse or more horrific than something else. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity in your comparison and avoid overuse in overly dramatic contexts to maintain the credibility of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more horrendous than

Uses "horrendous" instead of "terrible", stressing the shocking and dreadful nature of the comparison.

more horrific than

Similar to "horrendous", but with a stronger emphasis on causing horror.

more gruesome than

Replaces "terrible" with "gruesome", focusing on the horrific or ghastly aspect of the comparison.

more appalling than

Substitutes "terrible" with "appalling", stressing the shocking and deeply offensive quality.

more dreadful than

Employs "dreadful" in place of "terrible", focusing on the feeling of great fear or apprehension.

more dire than

Substitutes "terrible" with "dire", emphasizing the urgent and serious nature of the comparison.

more awful than

Uses "awful" as a replacement for "terrible", indicating something extremely unpleasant or bad.

more harrowing than

Replaces "terrible" with "harrowing", emphasizing the distressing or painful nature of the experience.

more fearsome than

Replaces "terrible" with "fearsome", highlighting the quality of inspiring fear or dread.

more frightful than

Uses "frightful" instead of "terrible", highlighting the alarming and scary aspect.

FAQs

How can I use "more terrible than" in a sentence?

Use "more terrible than" to compare two negative things, emphasizing that one is significantly worse. For example, "The aftermath of the war was "more terrible than" the war itself".

What phrases can I use instead of "more terrible than"?

Alternatives include "more horrendous than", "more dire than", or "more frightful than", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "more terrible than" or should I use a different construction?

"More terrible than" is a grammatically correct and commonly used construction for comparing two things. Its validity is confirmed by its frequent presence in various forms of writing.

What is the difference between "more terrible than" and "worse than"?

"More terrible than" and "worse than" are similar, but "more terrible than" implies a greater degree of horror or dread. "Worse than" is a more general term for something being of lower quality or less desirable.