horrendous

adjective

hor·​ren·​dous hȯ-ˈren-dəs 

hä-, 

hə-

: extremely bad or unpleasant : horrible, dreadful

His audition was horrendous.

horrendous crimes

horrendously adverb

Synonyms of horrendous

• horrible
• terrifying
• terrible
• formidable
• frightening
• scary

Examples of horrendous in a Sentence

Her taste in clothes is horrendous.

a horrendous explosion shook the building

Recent Examples on the Web

This one has been a horrendous performer since last summer (down 48% from its record close in June 2025). — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026

What the movie thrives on is the farcical and, all too often, horrendous reach of human error; surreal episodes are not cooked up but happened upon or stumbled over. — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026

The Chargers have been horrendous through two games this season, and that's coming from a miserable Dolphins fan. — Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026

The alleged conduct of this defendant was way beyond atrocious and horrendous. — Karma Sabbah, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin horrendus "inspiring terror or awe, dreadful" (gerundive of horrēre "to be stiffly erect, bristle, shudder, shiver") + -ous — more at horror entry 1

First Known Use

1659, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for horrendous

• stupendous
• tremendous
• rendus

Kids Definition

horrendous

adjective

hor·​ren·​dous hȯ-ˈren-dəs 

hä-, 

hə-

: dreadful, horrible

horrendously adverb