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
Relevance
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
Adjective
-
Stay vigilant by monitoring the sky for ominous signs and listening for the telltale sound of thunder.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
10 Sep. 2025 -
Headlines about Social Security are equally ominous.—
Ryan Ermey,
CNBC,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The case is interrupted as Lorraine is heavily pregnant with Judy and is induced into giving birth after a terrifying vision.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The series centers around a deep-space research vessel crash-lands on Earth, bringing with it mysterious and terrifying life forms, such as the Xenomorph.—
Carson Blackwelder,
PEOPLE,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Whatever, Dever quickly recanted her earlier precise testimony to the FBI about the sinister doings by those two dodgy cops behind Karen Read’s SUV.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The Haunted Carwash was the sinister concoction of spooky enthusiasts Long Vo and Veronica Young of Huntington Beach.—
Charlie Vargas,
Oc Register,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Rip currents are formidable natural forces, but knowing how to react can significantly increase your chances of safely navigating these challenging waters.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Sep. 2025
-
On paper, the American team looked formidable, boasting Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and other stars.—
Tim Corlett,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The bow-sided square manages to harness its own racing legacy, Steve McQueen et al, while still appearing contemporary in its slightly menacing dark suit.—
Thor Svaboe,
Robb Report,
9 Sep. 2025
-
If the sky becomes menacing and thunder becomes audible, seek out a safe place to seek shelter.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The horrible accident — later determined to be caused by pilot error — remains the deadliest plane crash in Charlotte history.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
-
But then came a horrible deep-ball attempt intended for Stefon Diggs that Isaiah Pola-Mao intercepted.—
Steve Buckley,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Overall, this wasn’t a terrible episode, but having our heroes start in the UK and then end up in Spain in the first episode felt rushed and wasteful.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Both men are good, both men are bad and both men have made terrible mistakes.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Interestingly, Lorraine has taught Judy to ward off her frightening visions by using a nursery rhyme, effectively teaching her to suppress her dark side.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
That's really frightening because people can be really cruel and that's dangerous.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Direful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/direful. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share