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direful

adjective

ˈdī(-ə)r-fəl How to pronounce direful (audio)
Definition of direfulnext
1
as in ominous
being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come the stock market crash was the first direful indication of the dark days to come

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in terrifying
causing fear heard the direful howling of the wolves during the night

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for direful
  1. ominous
  2. terrifying
  3. sinister
  4. formidable
  5. menacing
  6. horrible
  7. terrible
  8. frightening
Adjective
  • On a narrative level, the whole mad scene seems to mirror the ominous final moments of the previous two Lioness missions.
    — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026
  • In the younger woman’s presence, Rita finds that the ominous ticking clock in her mind goes silent.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of ominous
Adjective
  • He’s crafted a propulsive, simultaneously terrifying and hilarious thrill ride that showcases both his cinematic chops and perverse sense of humor.
    — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Compounding fears was a terrifying warning from a former AI executive last week that AI could end civilization within a decade and the tech companies aren’t doing enough about it.
    — S.E. Cupp, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of terrifying
Adjective
  • As Chris, a veteran CIA assassin with terminal cancer whose memory also seems to be going, Malkovich demonstrates a sinister insouciance that at first looks like psycho gloating.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Where does a muse end and something much more sinister begin?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of sinister
Adjective
  • Soldier Field and Wrigley Field will have formidable new competition.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Importantly, such research demonstrated the formidable risk associated with self-criticism for postpartum depression and anxiety, as well as for disruptions in mother-child communication, which might exacerbate postpartum psychopathology.
    — Torie Bosch, STAT, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of formidable
Adjective
  • Cano was thenarrested in May in the Bronx for robbery, menacing and gun possession.
    — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Rhys plays Nile Jarvis, the menacing and manipulative real estate scion suspected of murdering his first wife.
    — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of menacing
Adjective
  • Much has been written about the power of artificial intelligence to improve life in myriad ways, but also about its truly horrible effects—now and going forward—if it isn’t managed properly.
    — Nadine Hack, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026
  • But the horrible scenes that unfolded before him were incomparable.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of horrible
Adjective
  • As a rookie, the Pats lost plenty, but that was with a terrible roster around him.
    — Chad Graff, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The company reported another terrible quarter and cut its full-year outlook for the second time in three months.
    — Alyson Shontell, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of terrible
Adjective
  • The subjects bring insightful detail of frightening practices, and the filmmaking helps to underline the thematic commentary of the disconnect between levels of humanity.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Como are playing some slick football under Cesc Fabregas, and while 21-year-old Nico Paz is still the shining star at the heart of every attack, Baturina has also clicked into a frightening gear.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of frightening
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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direct taxes
direful
dirge
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Cite this Entry

“Direful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/direful. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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