Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Causing horror; terrifying.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Causing horror.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Causing horror; frightful.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective horrifying, causing horror; horrible.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective causing fear or dread or terror
  • adjective grossly offensive to decency or morality; causing horror

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Latin horrificus : horrēre, to tremble + -ficus, -fic.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Latin horrificus, from horrere ("to be horrible") + -ficare ("to make (in comp.)"): confer French horrifique. See horror, -fy.

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Examples

  • Red State is not a comedy, there's been a lot of speculation about what it really is but from what Kevin Smith says I think it sounds more like a thriller with horrific elements added, but using the term horrific not to describe gore and blood but more shocking than anything.

    Filmstalker: Kevin Smith on Red State 2007

  • By the following month, the new mentors began to document what they describe as horrific conditions.

    At Afghan Military Hospital, Graft and Deadly Neglect Maria Abi-Habib 2011

  • U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says Syria is engaging in what she calls "horrific" attacks against its own people, but the international community is not currently considering military action against the government in Damascus because regional leaders are working behind the scenes to resolve the crisis.

    Clinton: Syria Engaging in 'Horrific' Attacks Against Own People 2011

  • U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says Syria is engaging in what she calls "horrific" attacks against its own people, but the international community is not currently considering military action against the government in Damascus because regional leaders are working behind the scenes to resolve the crisis.

    Clinton: Syria Engaging in 'Horrific' Attacks Against Own People 2011

  • And just a short while ago, President Obama condemned what he called a horrific outburst of violence.

    CNN Transcript Nov 5, 2009 2009

  • We already heard some of that from the president's radio address this weekend, the president essentially saying, despite what he called the horrific images of sectarian violence coming out of Iraq, that he is, in fact, encouraged, as we heard him say today, that Iraq's leaders are responding in a way that will ultimately allow Iraq to establish a democracy.

    CNN Transcript Mar 19, 2006 2006

  • Earlier on Tuesday, Dr. Murray sat stoically with his hands crossed as Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor repeatedly chastised him for what he called a "horrific violation of trust" while caring for Jackson.

    The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed 2011

  • Earlier on Tuesday, Dr. Murray sat stoically with his hands crossed as Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor repeatedly chastised him for what he called a "horrific violation of trust" while caring for Jackson.

    The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed 2011

  • Similarly gruesome stories of people, especially children, being killed by parents, friends, and strangers in horrific ritual practices have become common in the news in the last four months.

    Uganda’s epidemic of child sacrifice 2009

  • Four people have their wishes come true in horrific fashion, and years later have to pay the piper.

    Archive 2009-07-01 2009

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