What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
horrendous
Example
The accident was horrendous and left many people injured. [horrendous: adjective]
Example
The food at the restaurant was horrendous, and we couldn't finish our meal. [horrendous: adjective]
awful
Example
The smell in the room was awful, and I had to leave. [awful: adjective]
Example
The weather was awful, and it ruined our plans for the day. [awful: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Awful is more commonly used than horrendous in everyday language. Awful is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while horrendous is less common and refers to something that is of a higher degree of badness.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between horrendous and awful?
Both horrendous and awful are informal words and are not typically used in formal writing or speech.
