annus horribilis
noun
an·nus hor·ri·bi·lis ˈa-nəs-hȯr-ˈi-bə-ləs 
ˈä-
plural anni horribiles ˈa-ˌnī-hȯr-ˈi-bə-ˌlēz
ˈä-
: a disastrous or unfortunate year
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Eventually, these non-decomposable medical accessories would form their own geological layer, a permanent mark of the annus horribilis 2020 in our earthly strata. 
Laura Bliss, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Apr. 2022 Last year energy rebounded from the annus horribilis of 2020 and became the best-performing sector in the U.S. equity and debt markets. Paul H. Tice, WSJ, 15 Mar. 2022 Now, more than two decades on, the New York magazine journalist Andrew Rice has built a different list, which views the absurdities of that annus horribilis from the other end of the telescope. Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2022 With restrictions rescinded, crowds are bound to flock once more, and likely in even greater number, as domestic travel continues to remedy the lingering effects of our very own annus horribilis. J.d. Simkins, Sunset Magazine, 25 Jan. 2022 After 2020, truly an annus horribilis for American higher education, most veteran observers thought college enrollment would start growing again this fall. Richard Vedder, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2021 Modi is having the kind of year for which the Latin phrase annus horribilis was invented. Vasuki Shastry, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2021 In California, nearly as many acres have burned so far this year as burned in the entire annus horribilis of 2018. Robinson Meyer, The Atlantic, 7 Sep. 2021 Restaurants, from fast food to fine dining, have invested millions in digital ordering, pickup and delivery to make lunch quick and frictionless, and are praying that after this last annus horribilis those investments prove sound. Jane Black, WSJ, 12 Aug. 2021 See More
Laura Bliss, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Apr. 2022 Last year energy rebounded from the annus horribilis of 2020 and became the best-performing sector in the U.S. equity and debt markets. Paul H. Tice, WSJ, 15 Mar. 2022 Now, more than two decades on, the New York magazine journalist Andrew Rice has built a different list, which views the absurdities of that annus horribilis from the other end of the telescope. Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2022 With restrictions rescinded, crowds are bound to flock once more, and likely in even greater number, as domestic travel continues to remedy the lingering effects of our very own annus horribilis. J.d. Simkins, Sunset Magazine, 25 Jan. 2022 After 2020, truly an annus horribilis for American higher education, most veteran observers thought college enrollment would start growing again this fall. Richard Vedder, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2021 Modi is having the kind of year for which the Latin phrase annus horribilis was invented. Vasuki Shastry, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2021 In California, nearly as many acres have burned so far this year as burned in the entire annus horribilis of 2018. Robinson Meyer, The Atlantic, 7 Sep. 2021 Restaurants, from fast food to fine dining, have invested millions in digital ordering, pickup and delivery to make lunch quick and frictionless, and are praying that after this last annus horribilis those investments prove sound. Jane Black, WSJ, 12 Aug. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
New Latin, literally, horrible year
First Known Use
1890, in the meaning defined above