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[ 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 (William G. Pollard, Physicist and Christian....)If one asks about this play , what it is that comes_upon this community and works within it with such terrible power , there is no better answer to give than `` spirit '' . Yet such is the dramatic power of his writing that the audience is nevertheless left in the grip of the terrible power and potency of that which came over Salem . (Brand Blanshard, "The Emotive Theory," Robert...)`` I have heard stories '' , he writes , `` of the most terrible , the most unnatural actions , of the most monstrous murders , told with the most spontaneous , childishly merry laughter '' . (Howard Fast, April Morning....)a voice called , and what made it even more terrible and unreal was that the redcoat ranks never paused for an instant , only some of them glancing toward the stone_wall , from behind which the voice came . (Leon Uris, Mila 8....)The terrible vision of the ghetto streets flooded his mind . Related terms |
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[ adjective ] exceptionally bad or displeasing
Synonyms 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 (Randall Stewart, "A Little History, a Little Honesty: A...)Lincoln understood this better than most when he said in his `` Second Inaugural '' that God `` gives to both North and South this terrible war , as the woe due to those by whom the offense came '' . (T. C. McClary, "The Flooded Desert," Argosy,...)A terrible , numbing sense of futility swept_over him . Related terms |
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[ adjective ] extremely distressing
Examples "fearful slum conditions" "a frightful mistake" "suffered terrible thirst" Used in print (Ann Hebson, The Lattimer Legend....)`` It was a terrible loss to me '' , said Kate quietly , feeling the pain twist again at the mention , knowing now that Juanita must have written to him at Grafton . Related terms |
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