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dreadful
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1dread·ful

adjective \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
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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

2dreadful

noun

Definition of DREADFUL

: a cheap and sensational story or periodical

First Known Use of DREADFUL

circa 1873

Other Publishing Terms

annotate, emend, expurgate, factoid, jump, lobster shift, redaction, referee

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