awful

¹aw·ful

adjective \ˈȯ-fəl\

Definition of AWFUL

1

: inspiring awe

2

: filled with awe: as

a obsolete : afraid, terrified

b : deeply respectful or reverential

3

: extremely disagreeable or objectionable <awful food>

4

: exceedingly great —used as an intensive <an awful lot of money>

— aw·ful·ly \ˈȯ-fə-lē, especially as adv of adjective senses 3 & 4 -flē\ adverb

— aw·ful·ness \-fəl-nəs\ noun

Usage Discussion of AWFUL

Many grammarians take issue with the senses of awful and awfully that do not convey the etymological connection with awe. However, senses 3 and 4 of the adjective were used in speech and casual writing by the late 18th century <it is an awful while since you have heard from me — John Keats (letter)> <there was an awful crowd — Sir Walter Scott (letter)> <this is an awful thing to say to oil painters — William Blake>. Adverbial use of awful as an intensifier began to appear in print in the early 19th century, as did the senses of awfully corresponding to senses 3 and 4 of the adjective. Both adverbs remain in widespread use <a sad state of affairs and awful tough on art — H. L. Mencken> <the awfully rich young American — Henry James> <decided to play it so awfully safe — A. M. Schlesinger b1917>.

Examples of AWFUL

1. They heard the most awful sounds.
2. Awful things began to happen.
3. He has some awful disease.
4. That joke is just awful.
5. That's an awful thing to say.
6. Who painted the house that awful color?
7. The mountains have an awful majesty.

First Known Use of AWFUL

13th century

Related to AWFUL

Synonyms

abhorrent, abominable, appalling, offensive, disgusting, distasteful, dreadful, evil, foul, fulsome, gross, hideous, horrendous, horrible, horrid, loathsome, nasty, nauseating, nauseous, noisome, noxious, obnoxious, obscene, odious, rancid, repellent (also repellant), repugnant, repulsive, revolting, scandalous, shocking, sickening, ugly

Antonyms

innocuous, inoffensive

Related Words

exceptionable, objectionable; brackish, disagreeable, dislikable (also dislikeable), unpleasant; contemptible, despicable, detestable, hard, hateful; unhealthy, unsavory, unwholesome; execrable, lousy, miserable; atrocious, frightful, ghastly, grim, grisly, gruesome (also grewsome), heinous, horrendous, horrific, horrifying, lurid, macabre, monstrous, nightmarish, shocking, sick, sickish, sickly, terrible, unspeakable, vile; off-putting, undesirable, unwanted, unwelcome; barbarous, unchristian, uncivilized, ungodly, unholy; distressing, disturbing, upsetting

Near Antonyms

acceptable, agreeable, alluring, appealing, attractive, blessed (also blest), congenial, darling, delectable, delicious, delightful, delightsome, desirable, dreamy, dulcet, enjoyable, felicitous, gratifying, heavenly, inviting, likable (or likeable), luscious, nice, palatable, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, satisfying, savory (also savoury), sweet, welcome; unexceptionable, unobjectionable; healthful, healthy, restorative, salubrious, salutary, wholesome

Rhymes with AWFUL

coffle, lawful, offal

²awful

adverb

Definition of AWFUL

: very, extremely <awful tired>

Examples of AWFUL

1. We haven't heard from him in an awful long time.
2. You've come an awful long way.

First Known Use of AWFUL

1818

Related to AWFUL

Synonyms

achingly, almighty, archly, very, awfully, badly, beastly, blisteringly, bone, colossally, corking, cracking, damn, damned, dang, deadly, desperately, eminently, enormously, especially, ever, exceedingly (also exceeding), extra, extremely, fabulously, fantastically, far, fiercely, filthy, frightfully, full, greatly, heavily, highly, hugely, immensely, incredibly, intensely, jolly, majorly, mightily, mighty, monstrous [chiefly dialect], mortally, most, much, particularly, passing, rattling, real, really, right, roaring, roaringly, seriously, severely, so, sore, sorely, spanking, specially, stinking, such, super, supremely, surpassingly, terribly, that, thumping, too, unco, uncommonly, vastly, vitally, way, whacking, wicked, wildly

Antonyms

little, negligibly, nominally, slightly, somewhat

Related Words

absolutely, altogether, completely, downright, entirely, flat-out, fully, positively, purely, radically, thoroughly, totally, utterly, wholly; deeply, profoundly; exceptionally, notably, remarkably; considerably, extensively, significantly, substantially; appreciably, discernibly, markedly, noticeably, obviously, palpably, plainly, visibly; abundantly, plentifully; astronomically, grandly, monstrously, monumentally; excessively, obscenely, overmuch; amazingly, astonishingly, staggeringly

Near Antonyms

meagerly, scantily; barely, hardly, just, marginally, minimally, scarcely