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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as in horror
the quality of inspiring intense dread or dismay
the dreadfulness of an oncoming avalanche can scarcely be described
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dreadful
Charles Arrowsmith, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025
Actor Tim Blake Nelson, who wrote, directed, and stars in Leaves of Grass, deserved better than its middling reviews and dreadful box-office performance.
—Barry Levitt, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025
So, with each team having played at least eight games, there is no time like the present to jump to ridiculous conclusions and assess players who have gotten off to what may be viewed as dreadful starts.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Those of us who have lived in countries terrorized by a secret police force can’t shake a feeling of dreadful familiarity.
—M. Gessen, Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dreadful
Adjective
The scale of the boarding school system, Pember observes, means almost no Native family is untouched by its dreadful legacy.
—Charles Arrowsmith, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025
Actor Tim Blake Nelson, who wrote, directed, and stars in Leaves of Grass, deserved better than its middling reviews and dreadful box-office performance.
—Barry Levitt, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025
So, with each team having played at least eight games, there is no time like the present to jump to ridiculous conclusions and assess players who have gotten off to what may be viewed as dreadful starts.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Those of us who have lived in countries terrorized by a secret police force can’t shake a feeling of dreadful familiarity.
—M. Gessen, Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dreadful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dreadful
Adjective
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The teaser trailer showcases the epic highs and lows of professional football, with a focus on the lows, as all of this looks terrifying.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
18 Apr. 2025
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But despite the terrifying name, giant viruses aren’t necessarily any more dangerous than a standard-sized species.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City Before the turn of the year, Manchester City were stuck in an awful rut.—
Sam Tighe,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
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The grandson of the benefactor whose maiden name christens the auditorium itself (The Fish Theater, which spawns a stream of awful fish puns as long as a whale), Jack was born into ballet and defends dance with every fiber of his being.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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These types of horrific events by terrorists are why those of us who work for peace and stability in the world continue our mission.—
Danielle Wallace,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2025
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Of course, some eight hundred thousand did die—many in horrific ways—while the formerly enslaved were left to fend for themselves in a postwar state where apartheid was enforced by terror.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Whether singing a cappella or accompanied by her guitar to hundreds or thousands of people − at a small venue or an awards show − Lafourcade's performances feel visceral, intense and intimate all at once.—
Pamela Avila,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2025
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In place of intense (and potentially irritating) acids, Mediheal's Madecassoside Blemish Pads target breakouts and breakout-causing bacteria with anti-inflammatory powerhouses madecassoside and cica.—
Sarah Han,
Allure,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Plus, that sheer wash of pigment makes for a great first step in your makeup routine.—
Annie Blackman,
Allure,
28 Apr. 2025
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And another lot of shoppers swear by the iconic Clinique Black Honey lipstick, which provides a sheer wash of natural pigment that can be built to a rich berry hue.—
Clara McMahon,
People.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The horror movie Late Night with the Devil sparked controversy for its use of AI to make three title cards, while Oscar favorites The Brutalist and Emilia Pérez landed in hot water over their use of voice-cloning technology.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
29 Apr. 2025
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But the film expands upon the game’s lore to create a unique, funhouse horror experience, a celebration of multiple horror subgenres and practical effects.—
Richard Newby,
Time,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Wade has been in a horrible slump since the season started and going in to Saturday night’s game against the Los Angeles Angels is hitting .096 (5-for-52) with a homer, seven RBIs, eight walks and an on base percentage of .213.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
19 Apr. 2025
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The Braves desperately need to add a shortstop and some offensive help amid their horrible start to the season.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The biggest storyline in the series, however, has been all of the ugly hits and bad blood between the two state rivals.—
James Mirtle,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
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Brinkley in her book describes one ugly scene when Joel, deep in his cups, ate a heap of spaghetti directly from a large pan on the stove, then vehemently kicked everyone out of the house for eating his pasta.—
Marc Weingarten,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dreadful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dreadful. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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