that's terrible

USAGE SUMMARY

"that's terrible" is correct and perfectly usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something is bad or unfortunate. For example: "I'm sorry to hear that you lost your job - that's terrible."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Tetanus — that's terrible".

The New Yorker

Britcominghome Wow, that's terrible.

The Guardian

Oooh, that's terrible.

The Guardian

Eight assists, 20 turnovers, that's terrible.

The New York Times - Sports

Our friend committed suicide — that's terrible. . . .

The New Yorker

"If you're a WorldCom customer, that's terrible news," Firstbrook says.

Forbes

People are immediately, "That's terrible!" Let's have a bit, then.

The Guardian

"That's terrible".

The New York Times - Sports

"I think that's terrible.

The New Yorker

He said "That's terrible.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

"Tetanus that's terrible".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that's terrible" to express sympathy, disapproval, or dismay in response to negative news or situations. Ensure your tone matches the gravity of the situation you're responding to.

Common error

While "that's terrible" is a useful expression, overuse can make you sound insincere. Vary your responses with alternatives like "that's awful", "that's unfortunate", or "that's disappointing" to keep your communication engaging and genuine.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that's terrible" functions primarily as an interjection or exclamation. It expresses a negative reaction to a piece of news or a situation. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is appropriate to use, for example when expressing sympathy or disagreement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "that's terrible" is a grammatically correct and widely used phrase to express negative sentiments such as disapproval, dismay, or sympathy. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts. To maintain sincerity and engagement, consider diversifying your responses with alternatives like "that's awful" or "that's unfortunate". Be mindful of overusing the phrase to avoid sounding insincere. While generally neutral in register, consider more sophisticated expressions in formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that's awful

Shares a direct synonym with "terrible", indicating a similarly negative situation.

that's dreadful

Synonymous, conveys a strong sense of negativity or unpleasantness.

that's horrible

Emphasizes the unpleasant or shocking nature of something.

that's unfortunate

Expresses regret or disappointment about something that has happened.

that's a shame

Indicates a cause for regret or disappointment.

that's too bad

A common expression of sympathy or disappointment.

that's disappointing

Highlights the feeling of unmet expectations.

that's upsetting

Indicates that something is causing emotional distress.

that's regrettable

Expresses sorrow or disappointment about a particular situation.

that's disheartening

Indicates a loss of enthusiasm or hope.

FAQs

How can I use "that's terrible" in a sentence?

You can use "that's terrible" to express sympathy or disapproval. For example, "I heard about the accident; "that's terrible"!" or "That's terrible advice; don't follow it."

What are some alternatives to saying "that's terrible"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "that's awful", "that's unfortunate", "that's a shame", or "that's disappointing".

Is it appropriate to use "that's terrible" in formal settings?

While generally acceptable, in highly formal settings, consider using more nuanced expressions like "that's regrettable" or "that's most unfortunate" to convey a similar sentiment with greater sophistication.

What's the difference between "that's terrible" and "that's awful"?

The phrases "that's terrible" and "that's awful" are largely interchangeable and convey similar meanings. However, "that's terrible" might be perceived as slightly stronger or more emphatic depending on the context.