as in gruesome
extremely disturbing or repellent
horrific images of the devastation spurred many people to give generously
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Recent Examples of horrific
Can the capacity to commit horrific acts be passed through bloodlines?
—
Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 15 May 2026
What happens next is horrific for Mariam’s family, and will prove to be heartbreaking for everyone involved.
—Carole Horst, Variety, 15 May 2026
All the Cleveland Cavaliers had to do to earn their first road win of these playoffs was rally from an early 15-point deficit, overcome a horrific start to the fourth quarter and survive an extra five minutes.
—Joe Vardon, New York Times, 14 May 2026
Opening statements began Tuesday in the robbery trial of an Arizona man accused of targeting exotic dancers in 2020, three years before he is alleged to have helped carry out a horrific plot to kidnap and murder one of the women.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for horrific
Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 15 May 2026
What happens next is horrific for Mariam’s family, and will prove to be heartbreaking for everyone involved.
—Carole Horst, Variety, 15 May 2026
All the Cleveland Cavaliers had to do to earn their first road win of these playoffs was rally from an early 15-point deficit, overcome a horrific start to the fourth quarter and survive an extra five minutes.
—Joe Vardon, New York Times, 14 May 2026
Opening statements began Tuesday in the robbery trial of an Arizona man accused of targeting exotic dancers in 2020, three years before he is alleged to have helped carry out a horrific plot to kidnap and murder one of the women.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for horrific
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horrific
Adjective
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Like its gruesome predecessors, his latest full-length work features adorably designed anthropomorphic animals (and mushrooms) navigating bleak realities and confronting existentialist concerns.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
15 May 2026
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Authorities were hunting for three days for the suspect after a gruesome late-night stabbing murder on Sunday in a laundry room in the Nordheim Court apartments.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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McGregor first fought at welterweight in 2016 in a shocking loss to Diaz, then defeated Diaz later that year, again in the 170-pound division.—
Mark Puleo,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
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But at the center of it all is Navarrette, whose fearless turn grounds the film’s shocking premise in something both heartbreaking and haunting.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
Adjective
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Which is horrible, just that amount of women being murdered.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
17 May 2026
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Hmmm, a book about climate change, economic hardship, labor shortages, rising food prices, and a family having a horrible time?—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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Residents describe ‘a terrible night’ More than 30 people were injured in the apartment building collapse, while emergency workers rescued 28 residents, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said.—
Samya Kullab,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
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And some were not kind to him on social media following the terrible first round.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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But the 22-year-old is not alone in having a nightmare individual performance on a high-profile sporting stage.—
Eduardo Tansley,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
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This is the nightmare scenario for California Democrats.—
Tom Charron,
Mercury News,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In the end, Bill Skarsgård returned as the horrifying clown Pennywise, which was always the plan from the start.—
Emily Longeretta,
Variety,
11 May 2026
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Aside from unpredictable fellow patients — some of whom are prone to violent outbursts — Pepper also has horrifying visions of a demonic beast.—
Eric Andersson,
PEOPLE,
6 May 2026
Adjective
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Eidinger is perfect for the role, and his escalating temper tantrums — almost camp at first, with delicious echoes of Christoph Waltz’s Hans Landa — become frightening in their intensity.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
18 May 2026
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But at Medley Club, residents never lost power during the entire frightening ordeal.—
Jeffrey Steele,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Horrific.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horrific. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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