dreadful

1 of 2

adjective

dread·​ful ˈdred-fəl 

1

a

: inspiring dread (see dread entry 2 sense 1a) : causing great and oppressive fear

a dreadful attack

b

: inspiring awe or reverence

2

: extremely bad, distasteful, unpleasant, or shocking

a dreadful idea

a dreadful performance

dreadful behavior

The food was absolutely dreadful.

3

: extreme

dreadful disorder

dreadfully

ˈdred-f(ə-)lē 

adverb

dreadfulness

ˈdred-fəl-nəs 

noun

dreadful

2 of 2

noun

publishing

: a cheap and sensational (see sensational sense 2) story or periodical

Synonyms

Adjective

• terrifying
• horrible
• terrible
• formidable
• frightening
• scary

Examples of dreadful in a Sentence

Adjective

Her performance was absolutely dreadful.

Those children have such dreadful manners.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Starship's track record has been dreadful so far this year, with the rocket's three most recent test flights ending prematurely. —ArsTechnica, 19 June 2025

How Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur found themselves in this final despite dreadful performances this season is a mystery to many. —Alex Tabet, NBC news, 20 May 2025

Noun

In 1989, there were 892,055 cases of Guinea worm disease, a dreadful and debilitating waterborne parasitic infection historically endemic to Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. —Tony Morley, Time, 28 Dec. 2022

The comical bumps up against the chaotic, the domestic beats back the dreadful. —Ed Stockly, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see dread entry 1

Noun

see dread entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

circa 1873, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing dreadful

• penny dreadful

Kids Definition

dreadful

adjective

dread·​ful

ˈdred-fəl

1

: causing dread or awe

a dreadful storm

2

: very disagreeable, unpleasant, or shocking

a dreadful cold

dreadful news

dreadfully

-f(ə-)lē

adverb

dreadfulness

-fəl-nəs

noun