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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as in dreadfulness
the quality of inspiring intense dread or dismay
the awfulness of the car accident can scarcely be described
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of awful
Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 May 2025
Simone has a nightmare about Kiki running down those awful steps to the beach.
—Caroline Framke, Vulture, 22 May 2025
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
The Pirates closer holds a 5.17 ERA entering Monday, but that is largely due to being awful earlier in the season.
Bednar has allowed just five runs in his last 11 outings, totaling 9 2/3 innings.
—Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 May 2025
Simone has a nightmare about Kiki running down those awful steps to the beach.
—Caroline Framke, Vulture, 22 May 2025
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
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There’s no doubt that Lewis, abandoned as a baby by his parents, has done some horrible stuff.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
26 May 2025
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What happened to Simone as a child is horrible, and in her brain, she is therefore absolved of having anything to do with her father.—
Lauren Coates,
Variety,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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Comments Chloe Fineman has explained how that amazing triple Jennifer Coolidge impression — Fineman, Dana Carvey, and host Ariana Grande — landed on Saturday Night Live.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
EW.com,
28 May 2025
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There’s still men — there’s Benson, who’s doing amazing.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2025
Adjective
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The war has carried a horrific toll for Gazans, with many dead amid the fighting and whole neighborhoods razed to the ground.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
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Instead of just ending on that horrific moment, the show then cuts to Abby several days earlier.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
Adjective
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Kids these days have attention spans crushed under the terrible weight of TikTok and Instgram.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
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The veto was a terrible blow to the cause of reparations, which has been gaining momentum across the country despite the Trump administration, which seems hell-bent on sending America backwards.—
Robert Turner,
Baltimore Sun,
2 June 2025
Adverb
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That number is not terribly surprising, given that the La Mesa medical facility treated the 10th-most acute strokes in the state and handled the largest volume in San Diego County in 2023, according to state data.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 May 2025
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The wine list is strikingly good and (also strikingly) not terribly expensive.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
18 May 2025
Adjective
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Compare the first half of Season 15 to Jodie Whittaker’s last outing as the Doctor, and things get uglier.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
23 May 2025
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The birds' droppings end up on the ground and windows below, creating an ugly scene for staff, branch patrons and passersby walking in the River Market District.—
Joseph Flaherty,
Arkansas Online,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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Your wonderful dog may or may not hanker to break routine and go on holiday.—
John Oseid,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
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My daughter came to live with us for nine wonderful years.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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Then, on November 25, 1987, the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office received a gruesome package in the mail.—
Christine Pelisek,
People.com,
27 May 2025
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The gruesome recovery comes in the wake of a gruesome February incident, when a body was found inside a suitcase floating in the East River.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Awful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/awful. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
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