Terrific vs. Terrifying – Which is Correct?

While often confused due to their similar sounds and shared linguistic roots, terrific and terrifying are antonyms with vastly different meanings. Terrific describes something excellent or wonderful, whereas terrifying refers to something that instills great fear or dread. Understanding their distinct connotations is crucial for precise communication.

Terrific or Terrifying – Which is Correct?

Both “terrific” and “terrifying” are correct and valid words in American English, but they convey opposite sentiments. The core difference lies in their modern usage and the emotions they evoke. “Terrific” is an adjective meaning extremely good, excellent, or wonderful. For example, a “terrific performance” suggests a highly successful one. “Terrifying,” also an adjective, means causing extreme fear or dread. A “terrifying experience” would be one that frightens someone greatly.

The Best Trick to Remember the Difference

To remember the difference, focus on the ending of each word. Think of “terrific” as related to “fantastic” or “magnific” (even though that’s not a real word, it helps with the positive association), both suggesting something wonderful. For “terrifying,” think of “horrifying” or “petrifying,” which clearly denote fear. Another trick is to remember that “terrifying” describes something that makes you fear, while “terrific” describes something that makes you feel great.

Word	Part of Speech	Meaning	Example
Terrific	Adjective	Extremely good; excellent; wonderful	The team played a terrific game and won the championship.
Terrifying	Adjective	Causing extreme fear or dread	The sudden lightning strike was a terrifying sight.

How to Use Terrific

“Terrific” is an adjective primarily used to express strong approval or admiration. It describes something as being excellent, wonderful, or very good. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it often carries a slightly enthusiastic or informal tone. It’s a versatile word for praising quality, performance, or experience.

Example 1: The chef prepared a terrific meal that everyone thoroughly enjoyed.

Example 2: She has a terrific sense of humor that always brightens the mood.

Example 3: Despite the challenges, they did a terrific job completing the project on time.

What are the different forms of Terrific?

As an adjective, “terrific” has comparative and superlative forms, although these are less commonly used than its base form due to its strong inherent meaning.

• Positive: terrific (e.g., a terrific idea)
• Comparative: more terrific (e.g., an even more terrific idea)
• Superlative: most terrific (e.g., the most terrific idea)

Etymology of the word Terrific

The word “terrific” comes from the Latin word terrificus, meaning “frightening, causing terror.” It entered English in the mid-17th century with this original meaning, closely related to “terrifying.” However, by the mid-19th century, it began to develop an informal, intensified sense of “excellent” or “tremendous,” which is its predominant meaning today. This semantic shift is an interesting example of how language evolves, where a word can retain its original root while acquiring an almost opposite connotation.

How to Use Terrifying

“Terrifying” is an adjective used to describe anything that causes extreme fear, dread, or horror. It emphasizes the intense emotional impact something has on a person or animal. It is used across various contexts, from describing a scary movie to a real-life dangerous situation, always conveying a strong sense of fright.

Example 1: The roller coaster’s steep drop was a truly terrifying experience for many riders.

Example 2: News reports about the approaching storm were terrifying to coastal residents.

Example 3: The thought of speaking in front of a large audience can be absolutely terrifying for some.

What are the different forms of Terrifying?

As an adjective, “terrifying” also has comparative and superlative forms. It is derived from the verb “terrify.”

• Positive: terrifying (e.g., a terrifying creature)
• Comparative: more terrifying (e.g., a more terrifying monster)
• Superlative: most terrifying (e.g., the most terrifying nightmare)

Etymology of the word Terrifying

“Terrifying” comes from the verb “terrify,” which originated in the late 16th century from the Latin terrificare, meaning “to frighten.” This in turn derives from terror (fear) and facere (to make). So, “terrifying” literally means “making fear” or “causing terror.” Unlike “terrific,” “terrifying” has consistently retained its original meaning of inspiring dread and fear throughout its history in the English language.

Related Concepts

Understanding broader linguistic concepts can further clarify the distinct uses of “terrific” and “terrifying,” especially when considering words with similar roots but divergent meanings.

• Contranyms (Janus Words): These are words that are their own antonyms, having opposite meanings depending on the context (e.g., “sanction” can mean both to permit and to punish). While “terrific” and “terrifying” are not contranyms themselves, their relationship highlights a historical semantic shift where “terrific” evolved from a negative to a positive meaning, making it an interesting case study in how word meanings can diverge dramatically from a shared root.
• Suffixes -ic vs. -fying: The suffix “-ic” often forms adjectives meaning “of or pertaining to” or “having the nature of” (e.g., poetic, heroic). The suffix “-fying” typically comes from verbs ending in “-fy” (like “terrify,” “horrify,” “satisfy”), and when used as an adjective (the present participle), it describes something that causes the action of the verb. Thus, “terrific” originally meant “pertaining to terror,” while “terrifying” means “causing terror.”

Examples from Media and Literature

• “It was a terrific afternoon, full of sunshine and laughter.” – (Example of positive use)
• “The alien creature in the film was truly terrifying, sending shivers down everyone’s spines.” – (Example of negative use)
• “Her confidence and skill made her a terrific leader for the expedition.” – (Example of positive use)
• “He recounted a terrifying encounter with a bear in the wilderness.” – (Example of negative use)
• “The novel had a terrific plot twist that surprised all its readers.” – (Example of positive use)

Practice Exercises

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.

1. The unexpected sound in the dark alley was absolutely ___________.
2. She gave a __________ presentation that impressed all the board members.
3. The children found the haunted house to be a truly ___________ experience.
4. What a ___________ idea! We should definitely go with that plan.
5. The storm clouds gathered, creating a ___________ atmosphere before the downpour.

Answer Key

1. terrifying
2. terrific
3. terrifying
4. terrific
5. terrifying

Terrific Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
Excellent	Extremely good; outstanding.
Wonderful	Inspiring delight, pleasure, or admiration; extremely good.
Fantastic	Extraordinarily good or attractive.
Great	Of an extent, amount, or intensity considerably above the normal or average. (Used informally to mean excellent).
Superb	Of the highest quality; excellent.

Terrifying Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
Frightening	Making someone afraid or anxious; terrifying.
Horrifying	Causing horror; extremely shocking or distressing.
Dreadful	Causing or involving great suffering, fear, or unhappiness; extremely bad or serious.
Scary	Causing fear or alarm; frightening. (Informal)
Petrifying	Making someone so frightened that they are unable to move or think.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Can “terrific” ever be used in its old sense of “causing terror”?
No, in contemporary English, “terrific” is almost exclusively used to mean “excellent” or “wonderful.” Its older meaning of “terrifying” is considered archaic and would likely cause confusion if used today.

Question 2: Why do “terrific” and “terrifying” sound so similar but mean opposite things?
They share a common Latin root, terror (fear), which is why their initial sounds are similar. “Terrifying” directly retains this root’s meaning. “Terrific,” however, underwent a semantic shift over centuries, evolving to mean “tremendous” or “excellent,” likely through an intensifying sense that moved from negative to positive connotation.

Question 3: Are there other English words that have shifted meaning from negative to positive like “terrific”?
Yes, this phenomenon, called amelioration, happens in language. Another example is “nice,” which originally meant “ignorant” or “foolish” but evolved to mean “pleasant” or “agreeable.” “Awful” also originally meant “full of awe” (positive) but now usually means “terrible” (negative).

Conclusion

While “terrific” and “terrifying” share a linguistic heritage, their modern meanings stand in stark contrast. “Terrific” celebrates excellence and positivity, while “terrifying” describes intense fear and dread. Mastering this distinction is key to clear and effective communication. Always remember that a “terrific” experience is one you’d want to repeat, while a “terrifying” one is best avoided. Using these words accurately enhances your professional reputation and ensures your message is precisely understood.