Horrendous
hɔˈrɛndəs
Definitions
Extremely bad or unpleasant; causing horror or dread.
hɔˈrɛndəs
Extremely unpleasant or bad; causing horror.
The food at the restaurant was horrendous.
💡 Simply: Imagine your worst nightmare come to life. That's *horrendous*! Like, if your favorite ice cream flavor was suddenly replaced with something you really hate, and it was EVERYWHERE!
👶 For kids: Super, super bad! Like when you drop your ice cream on the ground.
More Examples
She had a horrendous experience on her first day at work.
The weather was horrendous, with torrential rain and strong winds.
How It's Used
"The traffic was horrendous."
"The scene was a horrendous display of carnage."
Synonyms
From Latin *horrendus* 'to be shuddered at', from *horrere* 'to bristle, shudder'.
The word gained prominence in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, reflecting the influence of Romantic literature and a focus on the emotional impact of experiences.
Memory tip
Think of a *horrendous* movie – the kind that makes you want to cover your eyes and scream!