1
as in terrifying
causing fear
a dreadful hurricane
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dreadful
The Pats were a dreadful 4-13 each of the previous two seasons.
—
Greg Cote
january 26, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2026
Many travelers at Detroit Metro Airport are packing some extra patience with much uncertainty at the gate due to the nationwide dreadful winter weather.
—Julia Avant, CBS News, 25 Jan. 2026
For New Englanders, shoveling snow is an all-too-familiar task, yet still a dreadful one.
—Catherine Messier, The Providence Journal, 23 Jan. 2026
Things haven't gotten any better for the Packers in the playoffs since that dreadful day.
—Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dreadful
Greg Cote
january 26, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2026
Many travelers at Detroit Metro Airport are packing some extra patience with much uncertainty at the gate due to the nationwide dreadful winter weather.
—Julia Avant, CBS News, 25 Jan. 2026
For New Englanders, shoveling snow is an all-too-familiar task, yet still a dreadful one.
—Catherine Messier, The Providence Journal, 23 Jan. 2026
Things haven't gotten any better for the Packers in the playoffs since that dreadful day.
—Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dreadful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dreadful
Adjective
-
The frantic energy, the emotional volatility, the crazy eyes — Metcalf uses every tool in her acting arsenal to turn a cheap plot twist into the most terrifying adversary Sidney faces.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2026
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My mom was around at the time and told me stories about what that was like, just obviously terrifying.—
Nancy Tartaglione,
Deadline,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Whatever’s awful right now is legit awful.—
Sarah Hepola,
Dallas Morning News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Regardless of how embarrassing, personal, awful, unacceptable things are.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Lindsey Vonn says her left leg almost needed to be amputated following her horrific crash while competing at the Milan-Cortina Olympics this month.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
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Lindsey Vonn’s horrific leg injury was even more serious than originally realized.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The mild meats and cheeses should be consumed first, with diners gradually moving on to the most intense ones so as to not overpower the more delicate flavors.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Feb. 2026
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As Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance nears one month, the intense focus on her case is drawing overdue attention to other missing person cases that have long gone unnoticed.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Maybe some stayed for the sheer pornography of it all.—
Anand Gopal,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
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If sheer isn't your thing, porcelain is your answer.—
Amanda Le,
InStyle,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Whatever Americans think about what occurred this weekend, with the attendant death, economic disruption and other horrible human costs of war, to wish for anything other than that is to betray the brave Iranian people and its worried but hopeful diaspora, amply represented in our city.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Mar. 2026
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Iran has used those missiles, again, in a horrible way, firing them into cities and civilian centers in Israel.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
During the last two weeks, Sarandos got dragged into two ugly controversies.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Trump was, by now, back in office, and the issue of CNN again reared its ugly head.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The stumblebum energy disarms us, which makes the gruesome cruelty of the kills that much more disturbing.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2026
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In the second game for the Swiss, against Canada, Fiala broke his left leg in gruesome fashion for the second time in his career.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dreadful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dreadful. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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