1
as in horrible
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment
that's an awful thing to say about someone
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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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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
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Recent Examples of awful
David Wilson, Miami Herald, 29 Sep. 2025
The Tigers were an awful offensive club, racking up 1,595 strikeouts with just 149 homers; team was plagued by injuries after a 7-3 start.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 28 Sep. 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
Vanessa Maki, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2025
Up-market producer David Susskind railed for four hours about the awfulness of the boob tube.
—Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for awful
Adjective
The awful start to the 2025-26 NFL season has all Grier, McDaniel and Tagovailoa under the microscope.
—David Wilson, Miami Herald, 29 Sep. 2025
The Tigers were an awful offensive club, racking up 1,595 strikeouts with just 149 homers; team was plagued by injuries after a 7-3 start.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 28 Sep. 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
Noun
The real-life 2005 story involving a Canadian couple who inspired this film is horrifying, and the movie does a great job of capturing the awfulness of being mauled by a bear.
—Vanessa Maki, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2025
Up-market producer David Susskind railed for four hours about the awfulness of the boob tube.
—Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for awful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for awful
Adjective
-
While that might be great for the profitability in real estate, in consumer goods and apparel, that’s horrible.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
6 Oct. 2025
-
In the past, the Soviet Union had a horrible impact on Georgian wine.—
Jessica Jungbauer,
Vogue,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Shackleton may have made a mistake in the outdoors, and the amazing story of his getting back on track entertained millions of people for a century afterward.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
7 Oct. 2025
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The flocking is amazing, not too heavy yet sturdy.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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His horrific crimes went on to inspire classic horror movies like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, The Silence of the Lambs and Psycho.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
7 Oct. 2025
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Reading out the verdict, Korner recounted the horrific crimes committed by Abd–Al-Rahman, including gang rapes, abuse, and mass killings.—
Emmanuel Akinwotu,
NPR,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Midler and Hawn co-starred alongside Keaton in 1996’s The First Wives Club, with the stars portraying divorcées who wonderfully, wickedly take revenge on their terrible former spouses.—
Althea Legaspi,
Rolling Stone,
11 Oct. 2025
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In the 1970s, when game replays of both programs aired late Saturday nights on public television in Dubuque, Iowa and Wisconsin were equally terrible, and the city was fertile ground for whichever program got off the mat.—
Scott Dochterman,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Adverb
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Not terribly long ago, Spanish restaurants were abundant in this part of Manhattan, but a good number have died off in recent years.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
5 Oct. 2025
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Immediate forgiveness – a message of letting go of the anger that comes with being so terribly wronged – has a familiar sound to those who have been following a frighteningly violent news cycle.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Lindell handles very ugly, difficult matchups and usually comes out on top, regardless of who he’s partnered with.—
Harman Dayal,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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If the scoreline made for ugly reading, the performance wasn’t much better.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The ‘Mahabharat’ enabled by AI is a wonderful example of how tradition and technology can work hand in hand.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
10 Oct. 2025
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Again and again, striking out into the unknown led to wonderful new possibilities, making my life grow larger and deeper.—
Sarah Chamberlain,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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For reasons that are still not fully understood, Gein then developed a gruesome interest in human bodies.—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
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What began with the worst attack on Israeli soil in the country’s history—when Hamas killed twelve hundred Israelis and took more than two hundred hostages on October 7, 2023—has led to a gruesome war.—
Ruth Margalit,
New Yorker,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Awful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/awful. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
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