1
as in horrible
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment
that's an awful thing to say about someone
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in amazing
causing wonder or astonishment
the awful power of Niagara Falls
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in horrific
extremely disturbing or repellent
spare me the awful details of the murder
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4
as in terrible
extremely unsatisfactory
I can't believe I spent good money to see that movie—it was awful
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as in terribly
to a great degree
that's awful sweet of you
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of awful
Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 18 Feb. 2026
And not this awful thing that happens again.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 18 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for awful
Adjective
This would be the most average of average movies, not great, not awful, if not for Powell and the rest of the admittedly stellar cast, which includes Margaret Qualley, Topher Grace, Ed Harris and, in a particularly charming performance, Jessica Henwick.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 18 Feb. 2026
And not this awful thing that happens again.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 18 Feb. 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
See All Example Sentences for awful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for awful
Adjective
-
Whatever Americans think about what occurred this weekend, with the attendant death, economic disruption and other horrible human costs of war, to wish for anything other than that is to betray the brave Iranian people and its worried but hopeful diaspora, amply represented in our city.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Iran has used those missiles, again, in a horrible way, firing them into cities and civilian centers in Israel.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Gain lifetime access to all of this amazing content for one of 25 languages.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
That was an amazing period of time.—
TIME Staff,
Time,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Magnano then fires nine shots toward Jones, who immediately collapses to the ground as people in the area could be heard letting out horrific screams and cries.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
2 Mar. 2026
-
The trolling and harassment members of our community have endured in the past few days has been horrific.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Ball told TechCrunch that imposing the supply-chain risk label would send a terrible message to any company doing business with the government.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
26 Feb. 2026
-
But this is some terrible people.—
Babak Dehghanpisheh,
NBC news,
26 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
But all of this rapturous gazing made up a terribly small fraction of the experience of being a parent.—
Daniel Smith,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2026
-
But the arguments that AI will take over tasks and that will allow people to be more fully human is terribly mistaken and overtly hubristic.—
Caleb Harris,
Austin American Statesman,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
During the last two weeks, Sarandos got dragged into two ugly controversies.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Trump was, by now, back in office, and the issue of CNN again reared its ugly head.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Service at the bars and restaurants on the ship was wonderful, too—attentive but never hovering.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Justin Trudeau – like him or don’t like him – Canadians are wonderful people.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The stumblebum energy disarms us, which makes the gruesome cruelty of the kills that much more disturbing.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2026
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In the second game for the Swiss, against Canada, Fiala broke his left leg in gruesome fashion for the second time in his career.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Awful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/awful. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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