1
general::
terrible/awful
( also dreadful especially British English ) very bad:
• The journey was terrible – it took six hours. • The food was good but we had terrible service. • It’s such an awful programme! How can you watch it? • He looked dreadful.
horrible
very bad and unpleasant – used especially when something has a strong effect on you and you feel shocked, annoyed, or sick:
• This soup tastes horrible. • I got a horrible shock when I saw the bill. • a horrible accident • a horrible thing to say to someone
appalling
terrible – especially in a way that is shocking. Appalling is stronger and a little more formal than terrible or horrible:
• The refugees are living in appalling conditions. • The teacher said my handwriting was appalling.
disgusting
terrible – used about a taste, smell, habit etc, often one that makes you feel sick:
• The smell was disgusting and I had to go out. • Do you have to bite your nails? It’s a disgusting habit.
lousy
informal terrible – used especially to express annoyance:
• I’ve had a lousy day at the office. • This area is a lousy place to live.
hopeless
very bad and difficult – used when there is no chance of success or improvement:
• We were trying to pay off our debts but it was a hopeless situation. • He was given the almost hopeless task of trying to negotiate a ceasefire.
diabolical
British English extremely bad – used to express great disapproval of an action or event:
• The prices are diabolical. • a diabolical waste of money • McAndrew gave a diabolical performance on Saturday.
Longman-Thesaurus
2
general::
adj. VERBS be, look, seem, sound ADV. really, truly I thought something really terrible had happened. | absolutely, just, quite, simply He suddenly collapsed?it was simply terrible. | pretty, rather | not very Nothing very terrible happened. PREP. for It must have been terrible for the survivors.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary