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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in horrific
extremely disturbing or repellent
dreadful news of a crime wave in the neighborhood
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
the dreadful heat of the desert
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in sheer
having no exceptions or restrictions
made a dreadful mess of his first marriage
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dreadful
World Cup qualifying wins over Argentina and Brazil in 2023 were followed by a dreadful stretch with just one win in 12 games between summer of 2024 and summer of 2025.
—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
14 June 2026
But vengeance demons don’t grant wishes to be helpful and Cordelia soon realizes she’s made a dreadful mistake.
—
ArsTechnica,
7 June 2026
Blending trenchant social commentary with genuine thrills, the film explores terror on both a surface and subconscious level as Chris tries to escape his dreadful fate — one that is arguably worse than death.
—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 June 2026
Brunson scored 11 points in the first half while wearing the Nike Kobe 3s on a dreadful 5-for-15 shooting.
—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dreadful
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
14 June 2026
But vengeance demons don’t grant wishes to be helpful and Cordelia soon realizes she’s made a dreadful mistake.
—
ArsTechnica,
7 June 2026
Blending trenchant social commentary with genuine thrills, the film explores terror on both a surface and subconscious level as Chris tries to escape his dreadful fate — one that is arguably worse than death.
—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 June 2026
Brunson scored 11 points in the first half while wearing the Nike Kobe 3s on a dreadful 5-for-15 shooting.
—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dreadful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dreadful
Adjective
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The full extent of the casualties and damage may not be clear for many hours, but reports and videos show extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure across the country as residents face a terrifying night in the streets.
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Then the assailant turns to face the camera; but inside a hoodie, the face is no face, just a terrifying horror movie mask.
Adjective
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Messi shook off his awful spot kick to deliver another match-winning masterclass against Austria and become the competition’s all-time top scorer in the process.
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But the Windows handheld software experience on the Claw is just awful compared to the straightforwardness of SteamOS on the Steam Deck.
Adjective
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What should have been a night of celebration and community reflection for Juneteenth was shattered by a horrific act of violence.
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First of all, the suffering of the Iranian people has been horrific in the context of this unnecessary conflict.
Adjective
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Katherine Guaramaco described the experience as one of the most intense of her life.
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The president highlighted the military operation in Iran that has proven deeply unpopular, and an immigration agenda that has provoked intense backlash.
Adjective
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This sheer shade is a light and delicate pink with a hint of beige.
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The sheer number of deals available can make shopping overwhelming for even the savviest shoppers.
Adjective
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The Red Sox offense has been horrible this season, but Contreras has been everything the club could have hoped for.
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Your cab driver is taking you on a horrible route.
Adjective
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With one notable exception, everyone over there has nothing but ugly things to say about their main villa counterparts.
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Women superheroes have always activated an ugly segment of the internet.
Adjective
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The men escape, but their frantic exit leads them through the gruesome Terminus food-supply dungeon, where fresh corpses hang on meathooks.
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With two gruesome losses, meanwhile, Tunisia — Netherlands’ foe Thursday at Kansas City (Arrowhead) Stadium — has been eliminated already and cannot advance to the knockout round, no matter the outcome in KC.
Cite this Entry
“Dreadful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dreadful. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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