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
  • The restaurant’s unfussy dining room is spiced with colorful murals, among them an ominous bathroom-door piece featuring a toilet spewing orange flames.
    — Ellen Fort, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 July 2026
  • These unusual conditions explain why Sara discovers an ominous dead saltwater fish inside the caves before the group encounters a much larger ocean creature.
    — Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 29 July 2026
Definition of ominous
Adjective
  • Pinnock, in particular, is at his best here, showcasing a diabolical cruelty and terrifying manipulation, elevating the story and the show to a different level.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 31 July 2026
  • Here's a selection of spectacular photos of the July Buck Moon 2026 captured alongside gorgeous natural landscapes, terrifying wildfires and stunning cityscapes from around the world.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 30 July 2026
Definition of terrifying
Adjective
  • Like the initial story, Millie’s employers (Dunst and Kelly portray the spouses) are harboring a dark, sinister secret.
    — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026
  • As Digital Digging's Henk Van Ess noted, however, this tool also opens the door for more sinister uses.
    — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 31 July 2026
Definition of sinister
Adjective
  • Anyone in the bout would make a formidable champion, but given Flair’s lengthy history with Ripley, that is the most high-profile unification bout WWE could possibly do down the road.
    — Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The episode reveals the formidable powers available to a president to target his enemies.
    — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
Definition of formidable
Adjective
  • However, things look very quiet for at least the next week or 10 days, and there is no evidence of a bunch of menacing tropical waves starting to emerge off the coast of Africa.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Thompson was arraigned from his hospital bed, pleading not guilty to menacing charges.
    — Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of menacing
Adjective
  • But the Chinese way will cause a proliferation of talent, usage, data—until something horrible happens.
    — Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The Badgers have had horrible injury luck, which has led to bad QB play the past few years.
    — Antonio Morales, New York Times, 27 July 2026
Definition of horrible
Adjective
  • The delta between the disability from these diseases and the amount of funding and research being done on them is terrible.
    — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026
  • And forty per cent was about how great Modi is and how terrible the opposition is.
    — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of terrible
Adjective
  • Rob remembers the first two days in the hospital as frightening and uncertain.
    — Lisa Hughes, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • Chris Hemsworth's latest family vacation took a frightening turn when the actor found himself aboard a small plane caught in the middle of a lightning storm.
    — Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 30 July 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 8 Aug. 2026.

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