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horrendous

B1 adjective #24 가장 일반적인 13분 분량

horrendous

상위 24

At the A1 level, 'horrendous' is a very advanced word. You might not need to use it yourself, but you might hear it. It simply means 'very, very bad.' Imagine something that makes you say 'Oh no!' or 'That is terrible!' If you see a lot of rain and you cannot go outside, you might say the weather is horrendous. If you eat food that tastes very bad, you can call it horrendous. It is a word that shows you are very unhappy with something. It is much stronger than the word 'bad.' When you use it, people will know that you really do not like what you are talking about. For example, 'The traffic is horrendous' means the cars are not moving and it is a big problem. 'The noise is horrendous' means it is very loud and you want it to stop. It is a good word to use when 'bad' is not enough to describe how you feel.

For A2 learners, 'horrendous' is a great way to expand your vocabulary beyond basic adjectives like 'bad' or 'sad.' It is used to describe things that are extremely unpleasant or of very low quality. You can use it to talk about your daily life, like a 'horrendous commute' to work or a 'horrendous cold' that makes you feel very sick. It is an adjective, so you put it before a noun or after a verb like 'is' or 'was.' It is important to remember that 'horrendous' is a strong word, so we use it for things that are really quite bad. If you just don't like a movie, you might say it's 'not good.' If the movie was so bad you wanted to leave the cinema, you would say it was 'horrendous.' It helps you express your feelings more clearly and makes your English sound more natural and descriptive.

At the B1 level, you should start using 'horrendous' to add emphasis and variety to your descriptions. It is defined as something extremely unpleasant, shocking, or of very poor quality. You will often hear it in the news or in conversations about difficult situations. It is a 'non-gradable' adjective, which means it already implies 'very.' Instead of saying 'very horrendous,' you should say 'absolutely horrendous' or 'completely horrendous.' This is a common feature of English where we use specific adverbs with strong adjectives. You can use 'horrendous' to describe abstract things like 'horrendous prices' or 'horrendous mistakes.' It shows that you have a good grasp of the emotional weight of words and can distinguish between different levels of negativity. It is a very useful word for writing reviews or telling stories about bad experiences you have had.

B2 learners should be comfortable using 'horrendous' in both formal and informal contexts, while being mindful of its emotional impact. In a professional setting, you might use it to describe a 'horrendous oversight' in a project or 'horrendous financial results.' In these cases, it conveys a sense of shock and serious concern. In informal settings, it is often used hyperbolically to complain about life's annoyances. You should also be able to distinguish 'horrendous' from its synonyms like 'atrocious,' 'appalling,' or 'dreadful.' For instance, 'atrocious' might be used for a lack of skill, while 'horrendous' is often about the overall experience. Understanding these nuances helps you choose the exact right word for the situation. You should also be aware of the adverb form 'horrendously,' which can be used to modify other adjectives or verbs, such as 'horrendously expensive' or 'horrendously mismanaged.'

At the C1 level, you should appreciate the stylistic power of 'horrendous.' It is a word that can evoke a strong visceral reaction in the reader or listener. You can use it to create a specific tone in your writing, whether it's one of righteous indignation, dark humor, or genuine shock. You should also be aware of its etymological roots in the Latin 'horrere,' meaning to bristle or shudder, which gives the word its sense of physical repulsion. This knowledge can help you use the word more effectively in literary or descriptive contexts. You might use it to describe 'horrendous conditions' in a social critique or a 'horrendous realization' in a narrative. At this level, you should also be careful not to over-use the word, as its strength can be diluted if applied to trivial matters too frequently. Precision in choosing between 'horrendous,' 'ghastly,' 'vile,' and 'abysmal' is a hallmark of advanced English proficiency.

For C2 speakers, 'horrendous' is a tool for nuanced expression. You understand that while it is often used hyperbolically in modern parlance, its true power lies in its ability to describe things that are genuinely beyond the pale. You can use it to navigate complex registers, knowing when a more clinical term is needed and when the emotional weight of 'horrendous' is exactly what is required to make an impact. You might explore its use in historical contexts, describing 'horrendous atrocities,' or in high-level critiques of art and policy. You are also adept at using its adverbial form, 'horrendously,' to create sophisticated structures like 'horrendously complicated' or 'horrendously undervalued.' Your use of the word reflects a deep understanding of English collocations and the subtle ways that extreme adjectives function within the broader landscape of the language. You can use it to add a layer of intensity and conviction to your arguments and descriptions.

연습하기 예시 노트와 팁

horrendous 30초 만에

Horrendous is a strong adjective meaning extremely unpleasant or poor in quality.
It is often used hyperbolically for daily annoyances like traffic or weather.
It carries a sense of shock or visceral repulsion, stronger than 'terrible'.
Commonly paired with words like 'losses', 'mistake', 'conditions', and 'smell'.

The word horrendous is a powerful adjective used to describe something that is not just bad, but profoundly unpleasant, shocking, or of exceptionally poor quality. When you use this word, you are signaling to your listener that the situation or object in question has crossed a threshold from 'unpleasant' into something that causes a visceral reaction of dislike or even horror. It is a word rooted in the idea of trembling or shuddering, suggesting that the subject is so negative it might make one physically recoil. In modern English, it is frequently applied to a wide range of scenarios, from the quality of a meal to the severity of a natural disaster. It serves as an intensifier, allowing the speaker to express a high degree of dissatisfaction or shock without needing additional adverbs like 'very' or 'extremely'.

Sensory Overload: Often used to describe smells, sights, or sounds that are overwhelmingly offensive to the senses, such as the horrendous stench of rotting garbage in the summer heat.

The aftermath of the storm was truly horrendous, with homes destroyed and trees uprooted across the entire valley.

In professional contexts, 'horrendous' might describe a catastrophic failure in logic, a terrible financial quarter, or a series of mistakes that led to a significant loss. It carries more weight than 'bad' or 'poor' and suggests that the errors were obvious and avoidable. For instance, a manager might describe a report as having 'horrendous' formatting if it is completely unreadable. However, because of its strength, it should be used judiciously in formal writing to avoid sounding overly emotional or hyperbolic unless the situation truly warrants such a strong descriptor. It is also common in social commentary to describe living conditions, human rights abuses, or systemic failures that result in suffering.

Quality Assessment: Used to critique art, performance, or products that fail to meet even the lowest standards of acceptability.

I had to leave the theater early because the acting was horrendous and the plot made no sense.

Culturally, the word has evolved from its more literal 'horror' roots to become a staple of everyday exaggeration. While it once strictly referred to things that inspired fear, it is now just as likely to be used to describe a long commute or a bad haircut. This shift reflects a general trend in English where extreme adjectives lose some of their literal bite over time through frequent use. Despite this, when applied to serious topics like crime or poverty, it retains its full, somber gravity. Understanding the context is key to determining whether the speaker is being literal or using the word for rhetorical effect. For example, 'horrendous traffic' is a common frustration, whereas 'horrendous crimes' refers to something deeply disturbing and morally wrong.

The refugees described the horrendous conditions they faced during their long journey across the border.

Emotional Impact: Describes experiences that leave a lasting negative impression on a person's psyche or memory.

Losing her job right before the holidays was a horrendous experience that she struggled to overcome.

The chef was mortified to realize he had served a horrendous meal to the city's most famous food critic.

Using 'horrendous' correctly involves understanding its role as a descriptive adjective that modifies nouns. It can be used attributively (before the noun) or predicatively (after a linking verb like 'be', 'seem', or 'look'). Because it is an 'extreme' adjective, it is not usually used with 'very'. Instead, we use intensifiers like 'absolutely', 'truly', 'completely', or 'utterly'. Saying 'very horrendous' is grammatically possible but often sounds redundant to native speakers because the word already implies a 'very' high level of badness. Instead, 'absolutely horrendous' provides the correct emphasis for something that is beyond the pale.

Attributive Usage: Placing the adjective directly before the noun to define its character immediately, such as 'a horrendous mistake'.

The company suffered horrendous losses during the first quarter of the fiscal year.

When using 'horrendous' predicatively, it often follows a subject and a linking verb to describe a state or a result. This is common in conversation when reacting to news or describing an event that just occurred. For example, 'The weather was horrendous today.' In this structure, the word acts as the complement to the subject, providing the essential descriptive information. It is also effective in comparative structures, though less common than simpler adjectives. You might say, 'The traffic today was even more horrendous than yesterday,' although many speakers would simply say 'even worse' to avoid the clunkiness of 'more horrendous'.

Predicative Usage: Using the word after a verb to describe the subject, as in 'The noise from the construction site was horrendous'.

The service at that new restaurant was horrendous, so we won't be going back.

In descriptive writing, 'horrendous' can be paired with specific nouns to create vivid imagery. It is frequently paired with abstract nouns like 'suffering', 'pain', 'waste', or 'failure'. It is also commonly used with concrete nouns that describe environments, like 'conditions', 'weather', or 'traffic'. By choosing 'horrendous' over 'bad', the writer conveys a sense of scale and impact. For instance, 'a horrendous waste of money' suggests not just a few dollars misspent, but a significant and perhaps shameful loss of resources. This makes it a favorite in journalism and opinion pieces where the goal is to evoke a strong reaction from the reader.

It was a horrendous waste of time to attend a meeting where nothing was actually decided.

Intensifying Adverbs: Pairing 'horrendous' with words like 'absolutely' or 'quite' to further stress the severity of the situation.

The smell coming from the basement was absolutely horrendous after the pipes burst.

The witness provided a horrendous account of the accident that left everyone in the courtroom silent.

You will encounter 'horrendous' in a variety of settings, ranging from the evening news to casual chats at a coffee shop. In the media, it is a go-to word for reporters describing the scale of disasters, crimes, or economic downturns. Headlines might scream about 'horrendous weather' or 'horrendous casualties' to grab attention and convey the seriousness of a story. In these contexts, the word is used literally to describe events that are truly shocking and tragic. It helps the audience understand the gravity of the situation quickly, as 'horrendous' carries an immediate emotional weight that 'severe' or 'significant' might lack.

News and Media: Used by journalists to describe the severity of events like accidents, natural disasters, or major social issues.

The news anchor reported on the horrendous conditions in the war-torn region.

In everyday conversation, however, 'horrendous' is often used more hyperbolically. People use it to complain about things that are annoying or unpleasant but not necessarily tragic. You might hear someone say, 'The traffic was horrendous this morning,' or 'The coffee at that place is horrendous.' In these instances, the speaker is using the word to emphasize their frustration or dislike. It is a way of adding color and emphasis to their speech. While this usage is technically an exaggeration, it is perfectly acceptable in informal English and helps to convey the speaker's feelings more vividly than a simpler word like 'bad'.

Casual Conversation: Used as a hyperbolic way to describe daily annoyances, such as bad weather, long waits, or poor service.

I had a horrendous headache all day and couldn't get any work done.

In literature and film reviews, 'horrendous' is a common critical term. A critic might describe a movie's dialogue as 'horrendous' or a book's pacing as 'horrendous' to indicate a complete failure in craft. It is a strong condemnation that suggests the work is not just flawed, but actively painful or difficult to consume. Conversely, in the horror genre, the word might be used more literally to describe the monsters or the gore, leaning back into its original meaning of something that inspires horror. Whether used as a critique of quality or a description of content, it signals a high level of intensity.

The critic described the special effects in the low-budget film as horrendous and distracting.

Professional Feedback: Used in critiques to describe work that is significantly below the expected standard or contains major errors.

The audit revealed horrendous bookkeeping practices that had gone unnoticed for years.

The commute was horrendous because of the snow, taking three hours instead of the usual forty minutes.

One of the most common mistakes learners make with 'horrendous' is confusing it with other 'horr-' words like 'horrific' or 'horrible'. While they all share a root and a general sense of 'badness', they are used in slightly different ways. 'Horrific' is almost always used for things that cause actual horror, fear, or physical shock, such as a 'horrific accident'. 'Horrible' is a more general-purpose word for anything bad. 'Horrendous' sits in the middle, often used for things that are shocking in their badness or scale, but not necessarily scary. Using 'horrific' to describe a bad cup of coffee would sound very strange, whereas 'horrendous' or 'horrible' would be acceptable exaggerations.

Confusing with Horrific: Using 'horrific' for quality issues (like bad food) when 'horrendous' is the more appropriate hyperbolic choice.

Incorrect: The movie's ending was horrific (unless it was a horror movie). Correct: The movie's ending was horrendous.

Another mistake is the over-reliance on intensifiers. As mentioned before, 'horrendous' is an absolute or 'limit' adjective. This means it already contains the idea of 'very' or 'extremely'. Using 'very horrendous' is a common slip for non-native speakers. To sound more natural, use 'absolutely', 'truly', or 'simply'. Furthermore, spelling can be a challenge. The double 'r' and the 'e-n-d-o-u-s' ending are often misspelled as 'horrendus' or 'horrendis'. Remembering the connection to 'tremendous' can help, as they share a similar ending and a sense of great scale (though in opposite directions of quality).

Overusing the Word: Using 'horrendous' for every minor inconvenience can make your speech sound overly dramatic and reduce the word's impact when you actually need it.

If you say the weather is horrendous every time it rains, people might not believe you when there is a real storm.

Finally, learners sometimes struggle with the register of 'horrendous'. While it is common in speech, using it too frequently in academic or very formal writing can make the tone seem biased or unprofessional. In a scientific paper, for example, instead of saying 'the results were horrendous', one should use more objective terms like 'the results were highly inconsistent' or 'the data showed significant deviations'. 'Horrendous' is a subjective, emotional word, and while it is powerful, it lacks the precision required for technical or purely objective reporting. Save it for when you want to express a strong opinion or describe a truly shocking situation.

In a formal report, avoid saying the budget was horrendous; say it was 'unsustainable' or 'poorly managed'.

Register Awareness: Choosing the right level of formality. 'Horrendous' is great for storytelling and conversation, but often too emotional for technical writing.

The student's essay was full of horrendous spelling errors that made it difficult to grade.

The project was horrendously over budget by the time it was completed.

When 'horrendous' feels a bit too strong or you want to vary your vocabulary, there are several alternatives, each with its own nuance. 'Awful' and 'terrible' are the most common synonyms, but they are often used so much that they lose their impact. 'Dreadful' suggests something that causes a feeling of dread or deep unhappiness. 'Atrocious' is even stronger than 'horrendous' and is often used to describe something of extremely poor quality or a wicked act. 'Ghastly' has a slightly more old-fashioned or ghostly feel, often used for unpleasant sights or news. Choosing the right word depends on the specific 'flavor' of badness you want to convey.

Horrendous vs. Atrocious: 'Horrendous' focuses on the shock and unpleasantness, while 'atrocious' often emphasizes the extreme lack of quality or moral wrongness.

While the traffic was horrendous, the driver's behavior was absolutely atrocious.

For things that are physically repulsive, 'vile' or 'revolting' might be better choices. If you are talking about a situation that is very difficult to deal with, 'appalling' is a great alternative that suggests a sense of dismay or outrage. In a professional setting, words like 'substandard', 'deficient', or 'deplorable' might be more appropriate. 'Deplorable' in particular carries a sense of strong moral disapproval. If you want to describe something that is simply very large and bad, 'monstrous' can be used. Each of these words allows you to be more precise about why something is bad, rather than just stating that it is.

Horrendous vs. Appalling: 'Horrendous' is often about the experience or quality, whereas 'appalling' often implies a moral judgment or social shock.

The state of the public schools was appalling, leading to a horrendous lack of opportunities for the youth.

In more informal settings, slang terms like 'god-awful' or 'lousy' are common, though 'lousy' is much weaker than 'horrendous'. On the other end of the spectrum, 'abysmal' is a very strong word used to describe something that is as bad as it can possibly be, often used for performance or standards (e.g., 'abysmal grades'). By building a library of these synonyms, you can tailor your language to the specific context and avoid sounding repetitive. Remember that 'horrendous' is a high-energy word, so use it when you want to make a point that won't be forgotten. It's the difference between saying a movie was 'not good' and saying it was a 'horrendous waste of film'.

The weather forecast was abysmal, predicting a horrendous week of non-stop rain and wind.

Comparison Table: Horrendous: Shockingly bad quality or experience. Atrocious: Extremely poor quality or wicked. Appalling: Shocking and morally wrong. Abysmal: Extremely low level or standard.

The team's performance was horrendous in the first half, but they managed to improve later.

The smell of the old milk was vile, but the state of the fridge was truly horrendous.

How Formal Is It?

격식체

중립

비격식체

Child friendly

속어

재미있는 사실

The root 'horrere' originally referred to hair standing on end because of fear or cold. This is why we still use the word 'horripilation' for goosebumps!

발음 가이드

UK /hɒˈren.dəs/

US /hɔːˈren.dəs/

The stress is on the second syllable: ho-REN-dous.

라임이 맞는 단어

tremendous stupendous endous amend us befriend us extend us send us tend us

자주 하는 실수

Stressing the first syllable: HO-rrendous (Incorrect).
Pronouncing the 'ous' as 'house' (Incorrect).
Adding an extra 'i' sound: hor-ren-di-ous (Incorrect).
Making the 'h' silent (Incorrect).
Pronouncing the 'e' as an 'i': hor-rin-dous (Incorrect).

난이도

독해 3/5

Common in news and literature, easily understood from context.

쓰기 4/5

Requires careful spelling and understanding of intensifiers.

말하기 3/5

Very useful for expressing strong opinions naturally.

듣기 2/5

Distinctive sound and often stressed, making it easy to catch.

다음에 무엇을 배울까

선수 학습

bad terrible awful horror shocking

다음에 배울 것

atrocious appalling abysmal deplorable vile

고급

heinous execrable grievous egregious lamentable

알아야 할 문법

Non-gradable adjectives

We say 'absolutely horrendous', not 'very horrendous'.

Adjective order

A 'long, horrendous journey' (opinion before physical attribute).

Adverb formation

Add '-ly' to make 'horrendously'.

Predicative vs Attributive

A 'horrendous noise' (attributive) vs 'The noise was horrendous' (predicative).

Negative prefix/suffix

'Horrendous' is inherently negative; it doesn't take 'un-' or 'in-'.

수준별 예문

The food was horrendous.

The food was very, very bad.

Subject + was + adjective.

We had horrendous weather on our holiday.

The weather was very bad during our trip.

Adjective before the noun 'weather'.

The traffic today is horrendous.

There are too many cars and they are not moving.

Present tense 'is' with 'horrendous'.

I have a horrendous headache.

My head hurts very much.

Adjective 'horrendous' modifying 'headache'.

That was a horrendous movie.

That movie was very bad.

Using 'that' to refer to a past experience.

The smell was horrendous.

It smelled very bad.

Linking verb 'was' connects subject and adjective.

They live in horrendous conditions.

Their home is very bad and dirty.

Plural noun 'conditions' modified by 'horrendous'.

The noise from the street is horrendous.

The street is very loud.

Subject 'noise' followed by 'is horrendous'.

I made a horrendous mistake on my test.

I made a very big and bad error.

Common collocation: 'make a mistake'.

The hotel room was horrendous and dirty.

The room was extremely unpleasant.

Using two adjectives together for emphasis.

The commute to work was horrendous this morning.

The trip to work was very difficult.

Specific time reference 'this morning'.

She had a horrendous experience at the dentist.

Her visit to the dentist was very bad.

Adjective 'horrendous' with the noun 'experience'.

The prices at that shop are horrendous.

The things in that shop are very expensive.

Using 'horrendous' to mean 'extremely high'.

It was a horrendous waste of money.

Spending that money was a very bad idea.

Common phrase: 'waste of money'.

The acting in the play was horrendous.

The actors were very bad.

Predicative use after 'was'.

He told us a horrendous story about the accident.

He told a very shocking and bad story.

Adjective modifying the noun 'story'.

The company faced horrendous losses last year.

The company lost a huge amount of money.

Often used in business contexts for large negative numbers.

The victims described the horrendous treatment they received.

They talked about the very bad way they were treated.

Used to describe human rights or social issues.

It is absolutely horrendous that people are still starving.

It is very shocking and bad.

Using 'absolutely' as an intensifier.

The storm caused horrendous damage to the coastal towns.

The storm broke many things in the towns.

Collocation: 'cause damage'.

I find the idea of animal testing horrendous.

I think animal testing is very shocking and wrong.

Using 'find [something] [adjective]' to express an opinion.

The service was horrendous, despite the high prices.

The service was very bad even though it was expensive.

Using 'despite' to show contrast.

He has a horrendous reputation in the industry.

People in his job think he is very bad.

Adjective 'horrendous' with 'reputation'.

The aftermath of the earthquake was horrendous.

The situation after the earthquake was very bad.

Noun 'aftermath' often paired with 'horrendous'.

The project was a horrendous failure from start to finish.

The project failed completely and badly.

Using 'from start to finish' for emphasis.

She was horrifed by the horrendous crimes committed during the war.

The bad things done in the war shocked her.

Note the relationship between 'horrified' and 'horrendous'.

The traffic was so horrendous that I missed my flight.

The traffic was extremely bad.

Using 'so... that' structure for consequence.

The report highlighted the horrendous state of the nation's prisons.

The report showed the very bad conditions in prisons.

Formal verb 'highlighted' with 'horrendous state'.

It was a horrendous oversight not to check the safety equipment.

It was a very bad and shocking mistake.

Noun 'oversight' meaning a mistake made by not noticing something.

The smell of the chemicals was truly horrendous.

The chemical smell was very, very bad.

Intensifier 'truly' used with the adjective.

They endured horrendous suffering during the long winter.

They went through very bad pain and difficulty.

Verb 'endure' often used with 'suffering'.

The quality of the construction was horrendous, leading to many leaks.

The building was made very poorly.

Participial phrase 'leading to...' showing result.

The witness gave a horrendous account of the events leading up to the crash.

The witness described the very shocking details.

Noun 'account' meaning a description of an event.

The film was criticized for its horrendous depiction of violence.

The film was blamed for showing violence in a very bad way.

Passive voice 'was criticized for'.

The environmental impact of the oil spill was absolutely horrendous.

The spill was extremely bad for nature.

Compound subject 'environmental impact'.

He realized with horrendous clarity that he had been betrayed.

He understood very clearly and it was shocking.

Using 'horrendous' to describe the nature of an abstract noun like 'clarity'.

The budget cuts will have horrendous consequences for the local community.

The cuts will cause very bad results.

Future tense 'will have' with 'consequences'.

The sheer scale of the waste was horrendous to behold.

It was shocking to see how much was wasted.

Phrase 'to behold' meaning 'to see'.

The company’s horrendous track record on safety led to the strike.

The company's very bad history of safety caused the strike.

Compound noun 'track record'.

There is a horrendous lack of transparency in the government's decision-making.

The government is not being open at all, which is bad.

Using 'horrendous lack of' to emphasize a deficiency.

The protagonist was haunted by the horrendous memories of his childhood.

The very bad memories would not leave him alone.

Literary use of 'haunted by'.

The sheer, horrendous audacity of the proposal left the board speechless.

The proposal was so shockingly bold in a bad way.

Using 'sheer' and 'horrendous' together for maximum impact.

The landscape was a horrendous vista of scorched earth and ruins.

The view was a very bad and shocking sight.

Noun 'vista' meaning a wide view.

The legal battle was a horrendous drain on her emotional and financial resources.

The court case took away all her money and happiness.

Metaphorical use of 'drain'.

The critic’s review was a horrendous takedown of the author’s latest work.

The review was a very strong and bad attack on the book.

Noun 'takedown' meaning a harsh criticism.

The refugees’ stories revealed a horrendous tapestry of human suffering.

Their stories showed many different and bad types of pain.

Metaphorical use of 'tapestry'.

The stench in the trenches was horrendous beyond description.

The smell was so bad it could not be described with words.

Phrase 'beyond description' to show extreme degree.

The policy was a horrendous miscalculation that cost thousands of lives.

The policy was a very bad and shocking mistake.

Noun 'miscalculation' meaning a bad judgment.

자주 쓰는 조합

horrendous traffic

horrendous weather

horrendous mistake

horrendous losses

horrendous conditions

horrendous smell

horrendous crime

horrendous suffering

horrendous experience

horrendous noise

자주 쓰는 구문

absolutely horrendous

simply horrendous

truly horrendous

nothing short of horrendous

horrendous waste of

look horrendous

sound horrendous

feel horrendous

quite horrendous

horrendous lack of

자주 혼동되는 단어

horrendous vs horrific

Horrific is for things that cause fear or shock (like a crash); horrendous is for things that are very bad or poor quality.

horrendous vs horrible

Horrible is a general word for 'bad'; horrendous is much stronger and more shocking.

horrendous vs tremendous

They sound similar, but tremendous is usually positive (very big/good), while horrendous is always negative.

관용어 및 표현

"a horrendous state of affairs"

A very bad or shocking situation that is currently happening.

The current economic crisis is a horrendous state of affairs.

formal

"in horrendous shape"

In very poor physical condition or very disorganized.

The old car was in horrendous shape.

informal

"horrendous beyond belief"

So bad that it is difficult to imagine or accept.

The cruelty of the regime was horrendous beyond belief.

formal

"make a horrendous mess of"

To do something very badly or cause a lot of problems.

He made a horrendous mess of the presentation.

informal

"a horrendous blow"

A very bad and sudden disappointment or problem.

Losing the contract was a horrendous blow to the company.

neutral

"horrendous to contemplate"

So bad that you don't even want to think about it.

The possibility of another war is horrendous to contemplate.

formal

"cost a horrendous amount"

To be extremely expensive.

The repairs are going to cost a horrendous amount of money.

informal

"a horrendous ordeal"

A very difficult and unpleasant experience that lasts a long time.

Being trapped in the elevator was a horrendous ordeal.

neutral

"at a horrendous pace"

At a speed that is shockingly fast or difficult to keep up with.

The project is moving at a horrendous pace.

neutral

"a horrendous sight"

Something that is very unpleasant or shocking to look at.

The pile of trash was a horrendous sight.

neutral

혼동하기 쉬운

horrendous vs horrific

Similar root and meaning.

Horrific implies horror and fear. Horrendous implies shock and extreme unpleasantness.

A horrific murder vs. a horrendous traffic jam.

horrendous vs horrid

Similar root.

Horrid is often used for things that are nasty or mean, sometimes in a slightly childish or old-fashioned way.

What a horrid little boy!

horrendous vs terrible

Same general meaning.

Terrible is more common and less intense than horrendous.

I have a terrible cold (common) vs. I have a horrendous infection (intense).

horrendous vs atrocious

Both mean 'very bad'.

Atrocious often refers to a specific lack of skill or a wicked act. Horrendous is more about the experience.

Atrocious spelling vs. horrendous weather.

horrendous vs appalling

Both mean 'shockingly bad'.

Appalling often carries a moral judgment. Horrendous is more about the degree of badness.

Appalling behavior vs. horrendous prices.

문장 패턴

The [noun] was horrendous.

The coffee was horrendous.

I had a horrendous [noun].

I had a horrendous day.

It was a horrendous waste of [noun].

It was a horrendous waste of time.

The [noun] was absolutely horrendous.

The service was absolutely horrendous.

There is a horrendous lack of [noun].

There is a horrendous lack of evidence.

[Noun] was a horrendous drain on [noun].

The war was a horrendous drain on the country.

Due to horrendous [noun]...

Due to horrendous weather, the flight was delayed.

He made a horrendous [noun] in [noun].

He made a horrendous error in judgment.

어휘 가족

명사

형용사

사용법

frequency

Common in both spoken and written English, especially in news and reviews.

자주 하는 실수

Using 'very horrendous'. → Absolutely horrendous.
Horrendous is an extreme adjective and doesn't usually take 'very'.
Spelling it as 'horrendus'. → Horrendous.
The ending is '-ous', which is common for adjectives in English.
Using 'horrific' for bad quality. → Horrendous.
'Horrific' should be saved for things that cause actual horror or fear.
Pronouncing it as 'HO-rrendous'. → ho-REN-dous.
The stress must be on the second syllable.
Using it to describe a nice person. → N/A
'Horrendous' is always negative and should not be used for positive things.

팁

Use for Emphasis

Save 'horrendous' for when you really want to emphasize how bad something is. If you use it for every small problem, it loses its power.

Pair with 'Absolutely'

To sound like a native speaker, pair 'horrendous' with 'absolutely' instead of 'very'. This is a common pattern for extreme adjectives.

Learn the Family

Learning 'horror', 'horrific', and 'horrendously' at the same time will help you understand the root meaning and how to use different forms.

Double the 'R'

Always remember the double 'r' in horrendous. Think of the word 'horror' to help you remember the beginning of the word.

Stress the Middle

The stress is on the 'REN' part. Saying it correctly helps people understand you better, especially since it's a long word.

Show, Don't Just Tell

Instead of just saying something was 'horrendous', follow it up with a detail that shows why. 'The traffic was horrendous; it took me three hours to go ten miles.'

Great for Reviews

This is a perfect word for writing or giving reviews of movies, books, or restaurants that you really didn't like.

Hyperbole is Common

Don't be surprised if people use 'horrendous' for minor things. It's a common way to add drama to a story in English-speaking cultures.

Vary Your Words

Try using 'atrocious' or 'appalling' sometimes to avoid using 'horrendous' too often in the same conversation.

암기하기

기억법

Think of 'Horror' + 'End'. If a movie has a 'Horror End', it was probably 'Horrendous' to watch.

시각적 연상

Imagine a giant red 'X' over a plate of steaming, purple, smelly food. The word 'HORRENDOUS' is written in bold letters across the 'X'.

Word Web

Bad Shocking Unpleasant Poor Quality Horror Traffic Weather Mistake

챌린지

Try to use 'horrendous' in three different sentences today: one about the weather, one about a mistake, and one about a bad smell.

어원

From the Latin word 'horrendus', which is the gerundive of 'horrere', meaning 'to bristle' or 'to shudder'. It entered the English language in the mid-17th century.

원래 의미: Something that is to be shuddered at or something that inspires fear and dread.

Latin (Italic) -> French -> English

문화적 맥락

Be careful when using 'horrendous' to describe people's appearance, as it can be very offensive. It is better to use it for situations, objects, or quality.

Commonly used in news headlines to describe disasters and in casual talk to complain about traffic.

Commonly used in Gordon Ramsay's cooking critiques to describe bad food. Often appears in book reviews in 'The New York Times' to describe poor writing. Used in historical documentaries to describe the conditions of the Great Depression.

실생활에서 연습하기

실제 사용 상황

Commuting

horrendous traffic
horrendous delays
horrendous commute
horrendous roadworks

Weather

horrendous storm
horrendous rain
horrendous conditions
horrendous wind

Business

horrendous losses
horrendous mistake
horrendous oversight
horrendous quarter

Food/Service

horrendous meal
horrendous service
horrendous taste
horrendous experience

Health

horrendous headache
horrendous cold
horrendous pain
horrendous injury

대화 시작하기

"Have you ever been stuck in horrendous traffic for more than three hours?"

"What is the most horrendous movie you have ever seen in a theater?"

"Have you ever had a horrendous experience at a restaurant that you'll never forget?"

"What do you think is a horrendous waste of taxpayers' money?"

"Have you ever had to work in horrendous weather conditions?"

일기 주제

Describe a time you made a horrendous mistake and what you learned from it.

Write about a horrendous journey you took and why it was so difficult.

What is a social issue that you find horrendous, and what can be done about it?

Describe a horrendous meal you once ate. Use all five senses in your description.

Think of a time you were shocked by horrendous news. How did you react?

자주 묻는 질문

10 질문

Yes, 'horrendous' is significantly stronger than 'terrible'. While 'terrible' is a common word for anything bad, 'horrendous' suggests that the situation is shocking, extremely unpleasant, or of the worst possible quality. For example, a 'terrible movie' is just bad, but a 'horrendous movie' is one that was painful to watch.

It is better to avoid 'very horrendous'. Because 'horrendous' is an extreme adjective, it already means 'very bad'. Native speakers usually use intensifiers like 'absolutely', 'simply', or 'truly' instead. For example, 'The traffic was absolutely horrendous' sounds more natural than 'very horrendous'.

The correct spelling is H-O-R-R-E-N-D-O-U-S. People often forget the double 'r' or try to end it with '-us' instead of '-ous'. A good way to remember is that it rhymes with 'tremendous', which also ends in '-ous'.

You can use it to describe a person's behavior or their appearance if they look very sick or messy, but be careful. Saying someone 'looks horrendous' can be very insulting. It is most commonly used for situations, events, and qualities rather than people's personalities.

The adverb is 'horrendously'. It is used to modify verbs or other adjectives. For example, 'The house was horrendously expensive' or 'The project was horrendously managed'. It adds a sense of extreme degree to the word it modifies.

It is a neutral word that can be used in both formal and informal contexts. You will see it in news reports (formal) and hear it in daily conversations (informal). However, in very technical or scientific writing, more objective terms are usually preferred.

No, it rarely means 'scary' in modern English. While it comes from the word 'horror', it is now mostly used to mean 'extremely bad' or 'shocking'. A 'horrendous mistake' isn't scary, but it is a very big and bad error.

Common collocations include 'horrendous traffic', 'horrendous weather', 'horrendous mistake', 'horrendous losses', and 'horrendous conditions'. These are the word combinations that native speakers use most frequently.

No, 'horrendous' is always negative. Unlike words like 'terrific' (which used to mean 'scary' but now means 'great'), 'horrendous' has kept its negative meaning throughout history.

'Horrific' is usually reserved for things that cause actual horror or physical shock, like a violent crime or a bad accident. 'Horrendous' is used for things that are extremely unpleasant or poor in quality, like bad service or a long delay.