Thesaurus
Synonyms & Antonyms of awful
(Entry 1 of 2)
- that's an awful thing to say about someone
Synonyms for awful
- abhorrent,
- abominable,
- appalling,
- disgusting,
- distasteful,
- dreadful,
- evil,
- foul,
- fulsome,
- gross,
- hideous,
- horrendous,
- horrible,
- horrid,
- loathsome,
- nasty,
- nauseating,
- nauseous,
- noisome,
- noxious,
- obnoxious,
- obscene,
- odious,
- offensive,
- rancid,
- repellent
- (also repellant),
- repugnant,
- repulsive,
- revolting,
- scandalous,
- shocking,
- sickening,
- ugly
Words Related to awful
- brackish,
- disagreeable,
- dislikable
- (also dislikeable),
- unpleasant
Near Antonyms for awful
- acceptable,
- agreeable,
- alluring,
- appealing,
- attractive,
- blessed
- (also blest),
- congenial,
- darling,
- delectable,
- delicious,
- delightful,
- delightsome,
- desirable,
- dreamy,
- dulcet,
- enjoyable,
- felicitous,
- gratifying,
- heavenly,
- inviting,
- likable
- (or likeable),
- luscious,
- nice,
- palatable,
- pleasant,
- pleasing,
- pleasurable,
- satisfying,
- savory
- (also savoury),
- sweet,
- welcome
Antonyms for awful
- the awful power of Niagara Falls
Synonyms for awful
Words Related to awful
Near Antonyms for awful
- spare me the awful details of the murder
Synonyms for awful
Words Related to awful
- alarming,
- bloodcurdling,
- dire,
- direful,
- fearful,
- fearsome,
- forbidding,
- formidable,
- frightening,
- gut-wrenching,
- hair-raising,
- heart-stopping,
- intimidating,
- redoubtable,
- scary,
- terrifying
- abhorrent,
- deplorable,
- disagreeable,
- disgusting,
- distasteful,
- loathsome,
- nauseating,
- noisome,
- obnoxious,
- obscene,
- offensive,
- repugnant,
- repulsive,
- revolting,
- sickening
- abominable,
- evil,
- foul,
- heinous,
- noxious,
- odious,
- unspeakable,
- vile
Near Antonyms for awful
- I can't believe I spent good money to see that movie—it was awful
Synonyms for awful
Words Related to awful
Near Antonyms for awful
Antonyms for awful
- bitchin'
- [slang],
- great,
- marvelous
- (or marvellous),
- wonderful
awful
adverbSynonyms & Antonyms of awful (Entry 2 of 2)
- that's awful sweet of you
Synonyms for awful
- achingly,
- almighty,
- archly,
- awfully,
- badly,
- beastly,
- blisteringly,
- bone,
- colossally,
- corking,
- cracking,
- damn,
- damned,
- dang,
- deadly,
- desperately,
- eminently,
- enormously,
- especially,
- ever,
- exceedingly
- (also exceeding),
- extra,
- extremely,
- fabulously,
- fantastically,
- far,
- fiercely,
- filthy,
- frightfully,
- full,
- greatly,
- heavily,
- highly,
- hugely,
- immensely,
- incredibly,
- intensely,
- jolly,
- majorly,
- mightily,
- mighty,
- monstrous
- [chiefly dialect],
- mortally,
- most,
- much,
- particularly,
- passing,
- rattling,
- real,
- really,
- right,
- roaring,
- roaringly,
- seriously,
- severely,
- so,
- sore,
- sorely,
- spanking,
- specially,
- stinking,
- such,
- super,
- supremely,
- surpassingly,
- terribly,
- that,
- thumping,
- too,
- unco,
- uncommonly,
- vastly,
- very,
- vitally,
- way,
- whacking,
- wicked,
- wildly
Words Related to awful
Phrases Synonymous with awful
Near Antonyms for awful
Antonyms for awful
Learn More About awful
From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
On 'Awesome'
On 'Awesome'
An extraordinary, terrific word
Slippery Words Quiz
Slippery Words Quiz
Do you know these earlier meanings of words?
When Words Stray from Their Roots
When Words Stray from Their Roots
Should 'awesome' only be used to mean "inspiring awe"?
Cite this Entry
“Awful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/awful. Accessed 24 Sep. 2022.
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Test Your Vocabulary
The Great British Vocabulary Quiz
-
- Named after Sir Robert Peel, what are British police called?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.
TAKE THE QUIZ
-
Favorite New Words in the Dictionary
Level up your vocabulary with these newly added w...
Take the quiz
-
Name That Thing Mega Quiz!
Test your visual vocabulary!
Take the quiz
-
Spell It
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
Take the quiz
-
Spelling Bee Quiz
Can you outdo past winners of the National Spelli...
Take the quiz
Share awful
Time Traveler for awful
The first known use of awful was in the 14th century
See more words from the same century