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I have some problems with this two adjectives. Could anyone tell me what is the main difference between them or in what kind of words are connected with terrible and horrible?
I had never thought about it, I �ve alwayd thought these words are synonyms, but now that you ask, I �ve been thinking about it.
That man is horrible. - I would associate this to ugliness (the man is ugly) That man is terrible. - I would associate this with evil. (the man is mean)
That �s my only conclusion so far. Maybe other members have other ideas.
This is a particularly tricky question, and I can understand to reasons why you ask it. The words you spoke about are all adjectives - these two words horrible, and terrible .
�Horrible � is related to the noun �horror �...
�Horror � means strong fear, or shock, or repulsion. So,it can mean unpleasant or disgusting - so we could talk about "a horrible traffic accident", or we might say something like,"Ugh! This coffee is horrible!"
On the other hand, it �s also important to remember that �horrible � is more often used in normal everyday spoken English.
And then, �terrible � ............
You might think that it �s connected to terror in the same way that �horrible � is connected to horror, but in fact in modern English this isn �t true - I �m afraid they �re not.
So you can use �terrible � in several different ways:
�Terrible � has both the meanings of �horrible �, so we can talk about: "A terrible accident" or "A terrible cup of coffee".
We can also use it - excuse me - with very general meaning, meaning just very bad. So you could say: "This movie is terrible" or "This actor is terrible".
Also their origins may help you understand:
horrible:
ORIGIN Middle English : via Old French from Latin horribilis, from horrere �tremble, shudder� (see horrid ).
Terrible:
ORIGIN late Middle English (in the sense [causing terror] ): via Frenchfrom Latin terribilis, from terrere �frighten.
extremely bad; horrible: terrible
coffee; a terrible movie.
3.
exciting terror, awe, or great fear; dreadful; awful.
4.
formidably great: a terrible
responsibility.
hor⋅ri⋅ble
/ˈhɔrterrible:
1.
distressing; severe: a terrible
winter.
2.
extremely bad; horrible: terrible
coffee; a terrible movie.
3.
exciting terror, awe, or great fear; dreadful; awful.
4.
formidably great: a terrible
responsibility.
hor⋅ri⋅ble
/ˈhɔrterrible:
1.
distressing; severe: a terrible
winter.
2.
extremely bad; horrible: terrible
coffee; a terrible movie.
3.
exciting terror, awe, or great fear; dreadful; awful.
4.
formidably great: a terrible
responsibility.
hor⋅ri⋅ble
/ˈhɔr
The
difference is horrible has more
emphasis. Although they both are synonyms there is a slight difference. When
you use the word terrible it has a more flat and formal emphasis put on it
whereas when you use horrible it tends to become more informal. Since the word
horrible is related to the word horrific and horror it does carry the meaning
of being shockingly dreadful. Which of course you can clearly see that
meaningwise there is a great emphasis given to the distressing situation in
describing it.
I
hope my interpretation of the two words will be of help.
