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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Terrible: Meaning, Examples, and Usage Guide (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：extremely bad (terrible)

terrible 🔊

/ˈterəbl/

adj.

used to describe something that is very bad, unpleasant, or of low quality.

Terrible meaning: disappointed person with wilting plant on windowsill

extremely bad 🔊

➕

/ɪkˈstriːmli bæd/

adj.

Used to describe something that is very bad, unpleasant, or of low quality.

📁 Category：Natural Geography 🔖 Level：Elementary

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'terribilis', from 'terrere' (to frighten).

💡 Mnemonic

Terrible = terror + able: something able to cause terror, now just means very bad.

📖 Example

We had to cancel our picnic because of the terrible weather. 🔊 We had to cancel our picnic because of the terrible weather.

🔗 Collocations

terrible weather – extremely bad weather

terrible accident – a very severe accident

terrible mistake – a grave error

🔄 Synonyms

awful (adj.) – Very bad or unpleasant.

dreadful (adj.) – Causing great fear or suffering; extremely bad.

horrible (adj.) – Causing horror; very unpleasant.

🚫 Antonyms

wonderful (adj.) – Extremely good; marvellous.

excellent (adj.) – Extremely good; outstanding.

great (adj.) – Very good; excellent.

🌱 Derivatives

terribly (adv.) – In a terrible manner; very badly or extremely.

terribleness (n.) – The quality or state of being terrible.

📖 Cultural Story

Originally meant 'causing terror', from Latin terribilis. Over time, it weakened to simply mean 'very bad' or 'extremely' in informal use.

Meaning 2：extremely (terrible)

terrible 🔊

/ˈterəbl/

adj.

used to emphasize the degree of something, meaning ‘very much’ or ‘extremely’. Often informal.

Terrible as intensifier: worried person looking at late night clock

extremely 🔊

➕

/ɪkˈstriːmli/

adj.

Used to emphasize the degree of something, meaning 'very much' or 'extremely'; often informal.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

I'm terrible sorry for being late; my train was delayed. 🔊 I'm terrible sorry for being late; my train was delayed.

🔗 Collocations

terrible sorry – very sorry

terrible nice – very nice

terrible good – very good

🔄 Synonyms

very (adv.) – Used for emphasis; extremely.

extremely (adv.) – To a very great degree; very.

awfully (adv.) – Very; extremely (often used informally).

🚫 Antonyms

hardly (adv.) – Almost not; barely.

slightly (adv.) – To a small degree; a little.

mildly (adv.) – In a mild manner; not strongly.

🌱 Derivatives

terribly (adv.) – In a terrible manner; very badly or extremely.

terribleness (n.) – The quality or state of being terrible.