1
[ adjective ] causing fear or dread or terror

Examples

"the awful war" "an awful risk" "dire news" "a career or vengeance so direful that London was shocked" "the dread presence of the headmaster" "a dreaded disease" "a dreadful storm" "a fearful howling"

Used in print

(Louis Zara, Dark Rider....)

Somewhere , beyond , where shadows lurked , must be the yawning pit of which Papa preached and the dreadful Lake_of_Fire .

(Stephen Longstreet, Eagles Where I Walk....)

The horse shied at the dreadful thing and flared its nostrils .

(S. J. Perelman, The Rising Gorge. New York:...)

His eyes had the same dreadful rigid stare as Dr._Grimesby_Roylott 's when he was found before his open safe wearing the speckled band .

Related terms

alarming

2
[ adjective ] exceptionally bad or displeasing

Examples

"atrocious taste" "abominable workmanship" "an awful voice" "dreadful manners" "a painful performance" "terrible handwriting" "an unspeakable odor came sweeping into the room"

Used in print

(Harold Rosenberg, "The Trial and Eichmann"...)

Counsel for the defense , however , shrewdly allowing himself to be swept by the current of dreadful recollections , rarely raised an objection .

Related terms

bad

3
[ adjective ] very unpleasant

Related terms

unpleasant

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