DIREFUL Synonyms: 148 Similar and Opposite Words

direful

adjective

ˈdī(-ə)r-fəl

Definition of direful

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in terrifying

causing fear heard the direful howling of the wolves during the night

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for direful

Adjective

The oceans’ vastness can feel ominous, and though scientists have studied what lurks beneath, so much remains unknown.

— Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
Hong Kong — Days before Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi was killed, her father-in-law and brother-in-law allegedly went on an ominous shopping spree.

— Chris Lau, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of ominous

Adjective

Fifty years ago, scientists pioneering a terrifying gene-splicing technology figured out a way to collectively hit pause.

— Nick Fountain, NPR, 14 Oct. 2026
Don’t worry, the breakdown starts in a hurry and Cardellini is terrifying, if perhaps not as sympathetic as the series requires long-term.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of terrifying

Adjective

Grace Carroll gives a poignant performance as the Nightingale—borne aloft with arched back and trembling, outstretched hands by other dancers, who play thorns that pierce her breast—and Adam Elmes makes a seductively sinister Dorian Gray.

— Hannah Aizenman, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026
Clark plays the daughter of Ursula (Jessica Chastain) and Russ (Jay Duplass), a young girl terrorized by a sinister figure who looks just like her mother, known as the titular Other Mommy.

— Tanya Fedak, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of sinister

Adjective

Community supporter and legal advocate Over decades in South Florida, Klock earned a reputation as a formidable advocate, a mentor to younger lawyers and a steadfast supporter of the community.

— Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2026
The original recipe was two parts apple brandy to one part each of the liqueurs, giving this cocktail a quotient of sweetness that even its formidable alcohol content can’t quite tame.

— Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of formidable

Adjective

Despite the identically horrible records, these teams are in different places.

— Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 9 Oct. 2026
In all, the Dodgers drowned out that horrible tomahawk chop with some mighty hacks of their own, winning 3-1 while finally displaying some of the desperation that had been missing.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of horrible

Adjective

And then none of it mattered because his special teams bailed him out with a big kick return (thanks to a terrible decision by Eagles coach Nick Sirianni to even allow a kick return in the first place) followed by a walk-off field goal.

— Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
The story follows the transformation of Adriana (Colin), a woman shattered by a terrible murder and who discovers the strength to start over, driven by an unquenchable thirst for justice.

— Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of terrible

Adjective

Doyle has played all kinds of frightening characters in his five years at Markoff's.

— Ayesha Rascoe, NPR, 11 Oct. 2026
The trailer for the movie, which includes a particularly frightening jump scare from Chastain as Other Mommy, went viral online after playing in front of theatrical screenings.

— Jordan Moreau, Variety, 9 Oct. 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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“Direful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/direful. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of direful

adjective

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