He was called Ivan the Terrible because in those days the word terrible meant "formidable" or "fearsome", not "really bad". This is comes from his Russian nickname Ivan Grozny, which also means "Ivan the Formidable". Except in 1575-76 when Ivan let Simeon Bekbulatovich be Tsar instead, but Ivan was still in charge.
People also ask
Why was Ivan called the great?
Aug 26, 2021 · What we do know is that Ivan the Terrible certainly earned his nickname, whether it meant dangerous, unpredictable, and violent, or “courageous, ...