DREADFULLY Synonyms: 84 Similar and Opposite Words

dreadfully

adverb

Definition of dreadfully

as in terribly

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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.

Recent Examples of dreadfully Part slasher parody, part meta commentary on the structure of horror movies, and fully riotous, Behind the Mask is a dreadfully under-appreciated contribution to the subgenre that would have made for a terrific franchise. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 9 June 2026 Especially early in its career, Hum was dreadfully misclassified as just another soft-to-loud/Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana wannabe, and remained criminally under-appreciated for its heavy/stoner-friendly Midwestern shoegaze vibes long after its breakup. — Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 16 May 2026 More than anything, this documentary is dreadfully dull. — Zack Sharf, Variety, 11 Mar. 2026 That’s another company with a stock that acts dreadfully. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 25 Jan. 2026 Shin Godzilla, written and directed by Hideaki Anno of Neon Genesis Evangelion fame, comes the closest because it’s inspired by its own all-too-recent tragedy and feels dreadfully specific in its metaphor. — James Grebey, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026 For 20 games, opponents often shot dreadfully from distance against Miami, whether the three-point attempts were heavily contested or not. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 14 Dec. 2025 Today, however, Rihanna turned even the most dreadfully boring activity into an opportunity to stunt. — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 13 Nov. 2025 The back end of the bullpen is stout, yet the lineup is dreadfully short. — Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dreadfully

Adverb

Supporters of the bill say that type of restriction is terribly outdated.

— Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Having a conversation with Gold House founder Bing Chen isn’t terribly dissimilar from taking an amphetamine.

— Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of terribly

Adverb

The Social Democrats, led by Kurt Schumacher, a prickly figure who had suffered horribly for resisting the Nazis, were mistrustful of the United States and hoped to reunify Germany as a neutral state at the center of Europe.

— Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
The green team’s struggles are already horribly familiar for Alonso this year, particularly as its first Honda engine has been largely off the pace of the leaders.

— Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 24 July 2026

Definition of horribly

Adverb

The less said about Bryan’s horrendously gauche fuchsia-and-gold dress with puffy armholes and halter neck the better.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 July 2026
Too little regulation could allow the unleashing of devilish AI that might wipe us out or at least be horrendously destructive.

— Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Definition of horrendously

Adverb

However, enforcement – both statewide and nationally – is disastrously underresourced.

— David Michaels, The Conversation, 18 June 2026
His high point will be long forgotten, disastrously undone by his successor to plunge the world into recession, if not depression.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2026

Definition of disastrously

Adverb

Rhys gets to play Mayor Tom’s traumatic reactions to being stalked by a Sea Hag to great effect both comedically and horrifically.

— Joe Reid, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2026
The show must go on, however, and once the Bühnenstürmer (stage stormers) had been dealt with, hardy Ole carried on with his character’s near 20-minute monologue calmly, horrifically championing ultra-right political and cultural views.

— Matt Thompson, SPIN, 31 July 2026

Definition of horrifically

Adverb

The result is a new technology expense that's both fast-growing and poorly understood.

— Ameya Kanitkar, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Driscoll and others involved in the mission worried that something far less dramatic could derail it, such as an accidental weapon discharge, an isolated confrontation with a protester or a guardsman caught on camera behaving poorly.

— Steven Beynon, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of poorly

Adverb

In practice, this meant that the state set abysmally low standards for what students should learn to advance and graduate.

— Rachel Canter, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
Reports on abysmally low rates of recycling for milk cartons and polystyrene had been widely shared even before that.

— Susanne Rust Follow, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026

Definition of abysmally

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“Dreadfully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dreadfully. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of dreadfully

adverb

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