1
a
: inspiring dread (see dread entry 2 sense 1a) : causing great and oppressive fear
a dreadful attack
2
: extremely bad, distasteful, unpleasant, or shocking
a dreadful idea
a dreadful performance
dreadful behavior
The food was absolutely dreadful.
3
: extreme
dreadful disorder
publishing
: a cheap and sensational (see sensational sense 2) story or periodical
Examples of dreadful in a Sentence
Adjective
Her performance was absolutely dreadful.
Those children have such dreadful manners.
Recent Examples on the Web
Tim Spiers, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Champions League prestige and money secured By winning the competition, Tottenham qualifies for the continent’s top club competition, the Champions League, next season – despite how dreadful the club’s recent domestic performances have been.
—David Close, CNN Money, 22 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for dreadful
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Adjective
The stakes were high — glory for the winners and a dreadful season at least ends with a very notable trophy and a Champions League place, ignominy for the losers; a worst season in living memory, no solace, no silver lining, just humiliation.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Champions League prestige and money secured By winning the competition, Tottenham qualifies for the continent’s top club competition, the Champions League, next season – despite how dreadful the club’s recent domestic performances have been.
—David Close, CNN Money, 22 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
See All Example Sentences for dreadful
Cite this Entry
“Dreadful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dreadful. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
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