Negative:
* Extremely bad or unpleasant: This is the most common meaning. Examples include: "The food was terrible," "He had a terrible headache," or "The weather was terrible."
* Causing fear or dread: This meaning emphasizes the feeling of fear or unease. Examples include: "The storm was terrible," "She had a terrible fear of heights," or "He told a terrible story about ghosts."
Positive:
* Extremely good or impressive: This is less common but can be used ironically. For example, "That was a terrible performance! (meaning it was incredibly impressive)."
Informal:
* Very large or great: This is more informal and often used for exaggeration. Examples include, "I have a terrible amount of work to do" or "That's a terrible amount of money."
It's important to consider the context of the word "terrible" to understand its intended meaning.