terrific
Americanadjective
-
extraordinarily great or intense.
terrific speed.
- Synonyms:
- remarkable, extraordinary
-
extremely good; wonderful.
a terrific vacation.
- Synonyms:
- excellent, fine, remarkable, extraordinary
-
causing terror; terrifying.
adjective
-
very great or intense
a terrific noise
-
informal very good; excellent
a terrific singer
-
very frightening
Other Word Forms
- terrifically adverb
- unterrific adjective
- unterrifically adverb
Etymology
Origin of terrific
1660–70; < Latin terrificus frightening, equivalent to terr ( ēre ) to frighten + -i- -i- + -ficus -fic
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Glowicki is a terrific filmmaker, marshaling her tiny troupe to execute this unique project.
From Los Angeles Times
He made two terrific defensive plays on Wednesday in a loss to Corona and also had two hits.
From Los Angeles Times
But his willingness to get really weird with it — paired with a terrific sense of visual storytelling — makes him one to watch, elevating “They Will Kill You” into something more entertaining than it initially seems.
From Los Angeles Times
Yet another says that while the first film had its "propaganda intent ...wrapped in pacy racy story telling with terrific musical flourishes", the sequel is simply not as enjoyable.
From BBC
And that would be terrific news for the estimated 5,000 Americans turning 65 every day and thinking of handing in their notice.
From MarketWatch
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
