Pronunciation: [hˈɒɹɪbə͡l] (IPA) 
The word "horrible" is spelled with two syllables: "hor" and "ri-ble". The first syllable begins with the vowel sound /ɒ/ (as in "hot" or "dog") and is followed by the consonant sound /r/. The second syllable begins with the vowel sound /rɪ/ (as in "sit" or "bin") and is followed by the consonant sound /b/ and the vowel sound /l/. Together, "horrible" is pronounced as HAWR-uh-buhl, emphasizing the first syllable in the word.
Horrible is an adjective that describes something extremely unpleasant, shocking, or causing intense fear or disgust. This term is used to express strong negativity towards certain characteristics, circumstances, or experiences.
When referring to the physical world, something described as horrible can be associated with repulsiveness, ugliness, or a profoundly unpleasant appearance. For instance, a horrible smell could indicate a strong and offensive odor that elicits discomfort or nausea. Similarly, a horrible sight may refer to something visually terrifying or disturbing, such as a gruesome accident scene.
Horrible can also describe actions or behavior that is highly distressing, abominable, or cruel. Actions considered horrible are typically those that cause great harm, suffering, or pain to others. For example, an act of violence or a heinous crime can be described as horrible due to the immense suffering it inflicts.
Furthermore, horrible can be used to express anguish or severe emotional distress. It signifies a deep sense of emotional turmoil, sadness, or despair. This can apply to personal experiences or general situations that evoke intense negative emotions, such as the loss of a loved one or witnessing a tragedy.
Overall, horrible represents an extreme degree of unpleasantness, fear, disgust, or negativity, characteristic of elements that provoke intense aversion or distress.
Exciting horror; shocking; hideous; terrible.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "horrible" originated from the Latin word "horribilis", which is the neuter form of "horribilis" (horribilis, horribile in masculine and feminine form respectively). "Horribilis" comes from the verb "horreo", which means "to bristle" or "to tremble". It is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "gher" or "ghor", meaning "to bristle" or "to shudder". Over time, the meaning of "horribilis" in Latin evolved to indicate things that cause fear, dread, or terror. Through Old French influence, the term ultimately made its way into the English language as "horrible" with a similar connotation.
