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terrific

/təˈrɪfɪk/
/tɪˈrɪfɪk/
IPA guide

Something that's terrific is wonderful, like a terrific concert you'll never forget. Terrific can also describe something very intense, like a terrific thunderstorm.

Anything huge or loud or forceful can be described with the adjective terrific. A marathon runner might put in a terrific effort during the last mile of the race, or a band can make a terrific racket when it practices. Terrific can also mean great, like your terrific new hair cut. Terrific's origin is more scary than wonderful: the Latin root is terrificus, causing terror or fear.

Definitions of terrific
  1. adjective
    extraordinarily good or great ; used especially as intensifiers
    extraordinary
    beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable
  2. adjective
    very great or intense
    “a terrific noise”
    “a terrific thunderstorm storm”
    “fought a terrific battle”
    synonyms:
    intense
    possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
  3. adjective
    causing extreme terror
    synonyms: terrifying
    alarming
    frightening because of an awareness of danger
Pronunciation
US
/təˈrɪfɪk/
UK
/tɪˈrɪfɪk/
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