What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
awful
Example
The food at that restaurant was awful. [awful: adjective]
Example
She had an awful day at work, with everything going wrong. [awful: adjective]
horrible
Example
The movie was so horrible that I couldn't even finish watching it. [horrible: adjective]
Example
He went through a horrible ordeal during the accident. [horrible: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Awful is more commonly used than horrible in everyday language. Awful is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while horrible is slightly less common but still widely understood.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between awful and horrible?
While awful can be used in both casual and formal contexts, horrible is generally associated with a more serious or formal tone.
