terrible

causing fear or dread or terror

• “the awful war”
• “an awful risk”
• “dire news”
• “a career or vengeance so direful that London was shocked”
• “the dread presence of the headmaster”
• “polio is no longer the dreaded disease it once was”
• “a dreadful storm”
• “a fearful howling”
• “horrendous explosions shook the city”
• “a terrible curse”

exceptionally bad or displeasing

• “atrocious taste”
• “abominable workmanship”
• “an awful voice”
• “dreadful manners”
• “a painful performance”
• “terrible handwriting”
• “an unspeakable odor came sweeping into the room”

intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality

• “severe pain”
• “a severe case of flu”
• “a terrible cough”
• “under wicked fire from the enemy”
• “;”

extremely distressing

• “fearful slum conditions”
• “a frightful mistake”
• “suffered terrible thirst”