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
Gemma Chan and Channing Tatum are the two helpless parents of a sensitive eight-year-old (Mason Reeves) who is deeply shaken after accidentally witnessing a horrific crime at a local park in Beth de Araújo’s devastating portrait of childhood trauma.
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Radhika Seth, Vogue, 6 Jan. 2026
In addition to losing out on a job, Mel has also had people attempt to make money from the horrific crime off of her name.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
On Friday, officials set about the painful task of identifying the dozens of charred bodies left by the fire, while emerging images and eyewitnesses gave an indication of the horrific scene that unfolded.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 2 Jan. 2026
The horrific and devastating loss of our parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, is something that no one should ever experience.
—Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for horrific
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horrific
Adjective
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Peter offers her not only logic — a picture in which all the parts, however gruesome, fit together — but salvation.—
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The prosecution argued that being on drugs didn't excuse the gruesome attack.—
Adjective
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The shocking decision sends ripples through the Washington program and the college football transfer portal.—
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There are some great twists and turns leading to a shocking but very satisfying ending.—
Adjective
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Are there horrible smells wafting around?—
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Jimmy Kimmel was horrible, and some of these people.—
Adjective
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The groundbreaking research penetrated the last moments of the young nobleman, who suffered a terrible 26 blows.—
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History is full of cases where great bands make terrible records, yet history stands speechless at what the Clash accomplished here.—
Adjective
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That alone would be nightmare enough, but this debate has been constructed and is moderated by Sam Reich.—
Adjective
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Over the weekend, we were reminded of an even more horrifying football ritual following the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.—
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But this super drug has horrifying consequences.—
Adjective
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Experts immediately pointed out that Hassett had used a misleading method known as a cubic fit to make the mortality data appear less frightening.—
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When the sun went down, the Santa Anas began to blow, and the fire shifted into the familiar, frightening rhythm of inevitability.—
Cite this Entry
“Horrific.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horrific. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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