1
as in terrifying
causing fear
a dreadful hurricane
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in awful
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment
a dreadful performance of a beautiful piece of music
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3
as in horrific
extremely disturbing or repellent
dreadful news of a crime wave in the neighborhood
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4
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
the dreadful heat of the desert
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5
as in sheer
having no exceptions or restrictions
made a dreadful mess of his first marriage
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dreadful
The film picks up some dreadful energy whenever notorious Gestapo official Klaus Barbie enters the frame.
—
Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026
Just like that, the Mets bats are alive after looking dead during a dreadful 12-game skid months ago.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 14 May 2026
Just about the most-surprising thing that happened during our ordeal was that the wolves came up to our very tent flap every night in spite of the dreadful weather.
—Ben East, Outdoor Life, 14 May 2026
Bogaerts has with the Padres generally excelled in the season’s latter months and been dreadful in the early months.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dreadful
Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026
Just like that, the Mets bats are alive after looking dead during a dreadful 12-game skid months ago.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 14 May 2026
Just about the most-surprising thing that happened during our ordeal was that the wolves came up to our very tent flap every night in spite of the dreadful weather.
—Ben East, Outdoor Life, 14 May 2026
Bogaerts has with the Padres generally excelled in the season’s latter months and been dreadful in the early months.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dreadful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dreadful
Adjective
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And Kyle Busch himself won his first Cup championship in 2015 after suffering a broken right leg and a broken left ankle in a terrifying crash at Daytona.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 May 2026
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Robertson plays a beautiful rising but troubled Hollywood starlet who accepts what appears to be the perfect secluded retreat, only to uncover a terrifying web of secrets connected to the property’s mysterious caretaker and the haunting legacy hidden deep within its walls.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
28 May 2026
Adjective
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That’s an awful lot of people living with life-changing consequences.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
3 June 2026
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But for a restaurant that serves plenty of dishes seemingly designed for white tablecloths, there’s still an awful lot of eating done with your hands.—
Colin Wrenn,
Denver Post,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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Not just their physical injuries, horrific in themselves.—
Susan Rona,
Time,
1 June 2026
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Accompanying the violence, both the Naxals and the security forces – including local militia raised to combat the rebels – have been accused of horrific human rights abuses, including abductions, torture and rape.—
Dhruv Tikekar,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
Adjective
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Russia had vowed more intense attacks and warned foreign diplomats to abandon Kyiv.—
Elmira Aliieva,
NBC news,
3 June 2026
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That funding faced intense scrutiny from a handful of Republicans, prompting senators to abandon it.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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But moving Cale just to stay in that neighborhood would be sheer Looney Tunes.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
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The NikeCourt dress features a black, lightweight semi-sheer dress layered over a crimson tank and is currently sold out.—
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
Adjective
-
His slugging percentage is horrible.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 May 2026
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Some of it had to do with horrible tragedy, some because hopefuls could not see the math working out for them.—
Deputy Managing Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
Adjective
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Lemieux was 37, and had a reputation as one of those players who knew where to be, and when, around the ugly areas on the ice in a playoff game.—
Mac Engel
May 29,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 May 2026
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We, viewers and voters, are subjected to very ugly photographs and rhetoric.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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With Chubb and Phillips still on the mend from gruesome injuries the year prior, the then-rookie was thought to be the heir apparent.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2026
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The case has been widely reported by China’s heavily state censored media for the gruesome details of how Xu plotted the murder.—
Sylvie Zhuang,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dreadful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dreadful. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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