Synonyms of awful

awful 1 of 2

adjective

ˈȯ-fəl 

1

as in horrible

causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment

that's an awful thing to say about someone

Synonyms & Similar Words

• horrible
• ugly
• disgusting
• hideous
• sickening
• shocking
• dreadful
• obnoxious
• obscene
• offensive
• nasty
• unpleasant
• terrible
• evil
• appalling
• horrid
• abominable
• horrendous
• horrific
• loathsome
• gross
• odious
• revolting
• repulsive
• gruesome
• abhorrent
• repugnant
• distasteful
• scandalous
• noxious
• nauseating
• nauseous
• repellent
• undesirable
• foul
• rancid
• disturbing
• noisome
• vile
• fulsome
• hateful
• miserable
• unwanted
• monstrous
• objectionable
• horrifying
• disagreeable
• grim
• detestable
• atrocious
• despicable
• contemptible
• heinous
• ghastly
• sick
• unspeakable
• unhealthy
• nightmarish
• lousy
• frightful
• unwholesome
• execrable
• brackish
• grisly
• hard
• exceptionable
• unwelcome
• sickly
• unsavory
• barbarous
• macabre
• ungodly
• lurid
• upsetting
• dislikable
• unholy
• uncivilized
• sickish
• distressing
• unchristian
• off-putting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• acceptable
• innocuous
• pleasant
• desirable
• delightful
• nice
• attractive
• sweet
• delicious
• inoffensive
• enjoyable
• agreeable
• appealing
• heavenly
• alluring
• satisfying
• pleasurable
• welcome
• dreamy
• congenial
• pleasing
• gratifying
• blessed
• darling
• luscious
• likable
• delectable
• palatable
• felicitous
• inviting
• savory
• dulcet
• unobjectionable
• unexceptionable
• healthy
• wholesome
• healthful
• salutary
• salubrious
• restorative
• delightsome

2

as in amazing

causing wonder or astonishment

the awful power of Niagara Falls

Synonyms & Similar Words

• amazing
• wonderful
• astonishing
• miraculous
• surprising
• incredible
• marvelous
• stunning
• sublime
• awesome
• staggering
• extraordinary
• impressive
• stupendous
• wondrous
• remarkable
• spectacular
• fabulous
• astounding
• portentous
• prodigious
• unbelievable
• unusual
• interesting
• incomprehensible
• inconceivable
• unimaginable
• unthinkable
• fascinating
• outstanding
• exciting
• eye-opening
• uncommon
• unique
• rare
• noticeable
• phenomenal
• striking
• enchanting
• attractive
• charming
• notable
• conspicuous
• unwonted
• sensational
• attracting
• entertaining
• alluring
• enlightening
• singular
• mind-boggling
• mind-blowing
• smashing
• beguiling
• enthralling
• mind-bending
• bewitching
• invigorating
• animating
• enlivening
• energizing
• stimulating
• captivating
• galvanizing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unremarkable
• unimpressive
• tedious
• boring
• uninspiring
• dull
• uninteresting
• monotonous
• normal
• typical
• uninspired
• usual
• ordinary
• weary
• tiring
• common
• wearisome
• mundane
• wearying
• unexceptional
• customary
• exhausting
• draining
• fatiguing
• debilitating
• discouraging
• wearing
• jading
• dispiriting
• disheartening
• demoralizing
• enervating
• enfeebling

3

as in horrific

extremely disturbing or repellent

spare me the awful details of the murder

Synonyms & Similar Words

• horrific
• gruesome
• horrible
• terrible
• shocking
• nightmare
• terrific
• dreadful
• frightening
• horrifying
• hideous
• terrifying
• appalling
• horrid
• scary
• atrocious
• horrendous
• nightmarish
• ghastly
• sickening
• grisly
• frightful
• disgusting
• monstrous
• macabre
• lurid
• ugly
• alarming
• fearful
• dire
• obscene
• loathsome
• formidable
• revolting
• repulsive
• offensive
• direful
• deplorable
• abominable
• grotesque
• disagreeable
• obnoxious
• abhorrent
• heinous
• repugnant
• odious
• unspeakable
• evil
• intimidating
• forbidding
• fearsome
• vile
• distasteful
• gut-wrenching
• redoubtable
• nauseating
• noxious
• bloodcurdling
• noisome
• unsightly
• hair-raising
• heart-stopping
• foul

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pleasant
• attractive
• delightful
• delicious
• enjoyable
• appealing
• agreeable
• welcome
• satisfying
• pleasurable
• pleasing
• enticing
• delectable
• inviting
• comforting
• soothing
• cheering

4

as in terrible

extremely unsatisfactory

I can't believe I spent good money to see that movie—it was awful

Synonyms & Similar Words

• terrible
• horrible
• poor
• bad
• atrocious
• abysmal
• dismal
• lousy
• wretched
• rotten
• execrable
• sucky
• defective
• flawed
• inadequate
• shameful
• miserable
• substandard
• insufficient
• deficient
• inferior
• punk
• contemptible
• mediocre
• useless
• worthless
• lacking
• wanting
• faulty
• off
• reprehensible
• abominable
• odious
• low-grade
• vile
• damnable
• valueless
• bum
• fiendish
• second-rate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• great
• wonderful
• marvelous
• excellent
• exceptional
• superior
• prime
• adequate
• choice
• first-class
• sufficient
• bitchin'
• premium
• acceptable
• satisfactory
• first-rate

awful

2 of 2

adverb

as in terribly

to a great degree

that's awful sweet of you

Synonyms & Similar Words

• terribly
• extremely
• incredibly
• very
• damned
• damn
• badly
• too
• so
• highly
• really
• severely
• desperately
• seriously
• jolly
• that
• super
• greatly
• intensely
• most
• far
• especially
• awfully
• such
• exceptionally
• real
• much
• wildly
• heavily
• fantastically
• full
• particularly
• wicked
• mighty
• good and
• absolutely
• frightfully
• immensely
• deadly
• fabulously
• exceedingly
• monstrous
• fiercely
• sore
• supremely
• utterly
• specially
• totally
• uncommonly
• hugely
• remarkably
• dang
• passing
• filthy
• extra
• surpassingly
• way
• vitally
• beastly
• roaring
• eminently
• enormously
• rattling
• vastly
• mortally
• completely
• cracking
• colossally
• thoroughly
• positively
• achingly
• sorely
• stinking
• almighty
• whacking
• bone
• a lot
• thumping
• majorly
• deeply
• entirely
• spanking
• archly
• ever
• mightily
• roaringly
• blisteringly
• wholly
• downright
• significantly
• profoundly
• right
• unco
• corking
• noticeably
• as all get-out
• obviously
• considerably
• flat-out
• radically
• fully
• purely
• visibly
• notably
• substantially
• extensively
• markedly
• amazingly
• altogether
• palpably
• monumentally
• excessively
• obscenely
• astonishingly
• appreciably
• plainly
• discernibly
• monstrously
• staggeringly
• astronomically
• plentifully
• abundantly
• grandly
• overmuch

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• somewhat
• little
• slightly
• nominally
• just
• negligibly
• hardly
• barely
• scarcely
• marginally
• minimally
• meagerly
• scantily

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of awful

Adjective

Michigan has one, too, after Underwood’s awful day in the loss at Minnesota. — Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026

In two of the three phases that matter — offense and special teams — Sanders’ Buffs have been consistently awful, right from the jump. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 4 Oct. 2026

Adverb

Someone who has worked awful hard, has a great skill set, four years of college, four years of lifting, four years of game-planning at a high level in Division III. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 26 May 2022

First, there is the question whether the awful-looking restraint maneuver Chauvin used was actually authorized at the time, or at least not clearly forbidden. — D.j. Tice, Star Tribune, 20 Feb. 2021