dreadful

¹dread·ful

adj \ˈdred-fəl\

Definition of DREADFUL

1

a : inspiring dread : causing great and oppressive fear b : inspiring awe or reverence

2

: extremely bad, distasteful, unpleasant, or shocking

3

: extreme <dreadful disorder>

— dread·ful·ly \-f(ə-)lē\ adverb

— dread·ful·ness \-fəl-nəs\ noun

Examples of DREADFUL

1. Her performance was absolutely dreadful.
2. Those children have such dreadful manners.

First Known Use of DREADFUL

13th century

Related to DREADFUL

Synonyms: alarming, dire, direful, dread, fearful, fearsome, forbidding, formidable, frightening, frightful, ghastly, hair-raising, horrendous, horrible, horrifying, intimidating, redoubtable, scary, shocking, spine-chilling, terrible, terrifying

Antonyms: innocuous, inoffensive

Related Words: daunting, demoralizing, disconcerting, discouraging, dismaying, disquieting, distressing, disturbing, perturbing, startling, threatening, troubling, trying, unnerving; bone-chilling, creepy, eerie (also eery), weird; appalling, atrocious, awful, grisly, gruesome (also grewsome), hideous, horrid, macabre, monstrous, nightmarish

Near Antonyms: calming, comforting, consoling, inviting, lulling, pacifying, quieting, reassuring, relaxing, soothing, tranquilizing (also tranquillizing); nonintimidating, nonthreatening

see all synonyms and antonyms

[+]more[-]hide