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terrible ~ terrific

[different end pronunciation]

“Terrible” (adjective & has negative sense /connotation/ ) means ‘extremely unpleasant, very bad in a way that does harm or damage or that makes one feel very upset, bad, unhappy, or frightened; doing great harm, injury or damage; to a great level or degree’,

e.g.

He miraculously survived that terrible blast in which ten were killed and hundreds injured.

Our boxer suffered terrible injuries in the final bout.

My friend said that my driving was terrible.

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“Terrific” (adjective & has very positive sense /connotation/) means ‘very good, wonderful, excellent, especially in a way that makes one feel very happy and excited; (of something) very large, very great in size and/or degree’,

e.g.

My wife and I had a terrific evening — we watched a film, had a nice meal with some friends and finally drove back home in the pleasant night weather.

She came up with an idea which everybody agreed was terrific.

Her dress is terrific; everyone’s eyes are on her.

Compare:

You say the fight between these two fighters is terrific when you are on the small man’s side and he wins the fight.   [giving positive connotation – because your small man fights gallantly  {The word 'horrible' is also used in the sense of 'terrible' though these two words are not actually synonyms.}]

But…

you say it is terrible when you are on the small man’s side and the giant wins, killing the small man mercilessly!   [giving negative connotation – because the giant killing your small man was unfair  {The word 'terrified', however, means 'very very afraid' and gives a negative connotation.}]

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