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 Made from 100 percent cotton, this lightweight number is extremely soft and a great option for dreadfully hot days. — Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 12 Aug. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dreadfully

Adverb

The five per cent is for if things go terribly wrong and Liverpool have no choice but to change.

— Andy Jones, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Supporters of the bill say that type of restriction is terribly outdated.

— Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of terribly

Adverb

Another young woman shares footage of her experience getting lip filler that ended up going horribly wrong.

— Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026
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

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

That assumption aged poorly as AA’s competitor Delta Air Lines made seatback screens based on cheaper, lighter hardware part of its standard experience.

— Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 19 Aug. 2026
Toxicologist Fernández has stayed in touch with his patient and still winces about how Mark feared reporting the crime to the police could reflect poorly on him professionally.

— Mattha Busby, Rolling Stone, 19 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 27 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of dreadfully

adverb

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