the horrendous

USAGE SUMMARY

"the horrendous" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used as an adjective phrase to describe something that is extremely terrible or horrible. Example: The horrendous smell coming from the dumpster was enough to make me gag.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"The horrendous comments on blogs.

The Guardian

"There has always been the horrendous murder.

The New York Times

The horrendous scenes revealed cattle being whipped, stabbed and gouged.

The Economist

That's part of the horrendous joy of the play".

The Guardian

But that should not obscure the horrendous loss of wealth.

The Economist

Will the horrendous border scum get to Susie before Mike?

The Guardian - Film

Despite the horrendous conditions, the mood is good humoured.

The Guardian

The horrendous sight even got into my dreams.Ranko Bon Motovun, Istria, Croatia.

The Economist

The horrendous allegations about Cosby elicited, at first, an insouciant shrug.

The New Yorker

This is not the horrendous monstrosity some liberals are screaming about.

The New York Times

It's about racist violence and the horrendous exploitation of workers," said Prof. Christopoulos.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the horrendous" to emphasize the extreme negativity or severity of a situation, event, or condition.

Common error

Avoid using "the horrendous" in casual conversation or informal writing, as it can sound overly dramatic. Opt for simpler alternatives like "very bad" or "awful" in those situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the horrendous" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to emphasize the extreme negativity or severity of what is being described. Ludwig examples showcase its use in diverse contexts like "the horrendous comments", "the horrendous conditions", and "the horrendous act".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the horrendous" is a grammatically sound adjective phrase used to express something extremely bad or unpleasant. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage. Found predominantly in news and media contexts, the phrase serves to emphasize the severity or negativity of a situation. While appropriate for formal and neutral registers, it may sound overly dramatic in casual conversation. To achieve a similar effect with different wording, consider alternatives such as "the appalling" or "the dreadful".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the appalling

Replaces "horrendous" with "appalling", keeping a similar level of intensity.

the dreadful

Substitutes "horrendous" with "dreadful", maintaining a comparable degree of negativity.

the atrocious

Uses "atrocious" instead of "horrendous" to describe something exceptionally bad.

the terrible

Replaces "horrendous" with "terrible", offering a slightly less intense but similar meaning.

the awful

Substitutes "horrendous" with "awful", indicating something very unpleasant.

the shocking

Uses "shocking" instead of "horrendous", focusing on the surprise or dismay caused.

the appalling nature

Emphasizes the nature of what is horrendous, using "appalling" as an alternative.

the frightful

Replaces "horrendous" with "frightful", suggesting something alarming or causing fear.

the ghastly

Substitutes "horrendous" with "ghastly", implying something gruesome or terrifying.

the alarming

Uses "alarming" instead of "horrendous", highlighting the cause for concern.

FAQs

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

You can use "the horrendous" to describe something extremely bad or unpleasant. For example, "The horrendous traffic made me late for the meeting".

What phrases are similar to "the horrendous"?

Similar phrases include "the dreadful", "the atrocious", and "the terrible". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "the horrendous" in formal writing?

Yes, "the horrendous" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when emphasizing the severity of a situation. However, ensure the context warrants such a strong term.

What is the difference between "the horrendous" and "the horrible"?

"The horrendous" implies a greater degree of negativity or severity than "the horrible". Use "the horrendous" when you want to emphasize the extreme awfulness of something.