How to say "horrific" in Japanese

• むごたらしい
  i-adjectiveCovers 'horrific' in the sense of atrocious or brutally cruel, as with violent acts or scenes of suffering. It emphasizes cruelty rather than mere intensity, and it is the less common of the two words.
• ものすごいJLPT N2approx.Common
  i-adjectiveCovers 'horrific' in the looser sense of frightful, ghastly, or simply terrible in degree. This common word also serves as a general intensifier, so context determines whether 'horrific' is really meant.
  ものすごい叫び声さけびごえに彼かれはぞっとした。↗

  The sound of an awful scream made him shudder.

For 'horrific' meaning ghastly or terrible in degree, use 「ものすごい」; 「むごたらしい」 fits only the cruel, atrocious sense of horrific acts, and is the less common choice.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• むごたらしい(incredibly) cruel
• ものすごいfrightful