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DREADFUL

Pronunciation (US):

Dictionary entry overview: What does dreadful mean?

• DREADFUL (adjective)
The adjective DREADFUL has 3 senses:

1. causing fear or dread or terror
2. exceptionally bad or displeasing
3. very unpleasant

Familiarity information: DREADFUL used as an adjective is uncommon.

Dictionary entry details

• DREADFUL (adjective)

Sense 1

dreadful ^{[BACK TO TOP]}

Meaning:

Causing fear or dread or terror

Synonyms:

horrendous; frightening; fearsome; fearful; dreadful; dreaded; dread; direful; terrible; awful; horrific; dire

Context examples:

the awful war / an awful risk / dire news / a career or vengeance so direful that London was shocked / the dread presence of the headmaster / polio is no longer the dreaded disease it once was / a dreadful storm / a fearful howling / horrendous explosions shook the city / a terrible curse

Similar:

alarming (causing alarm or fear)

Sense 2

dreadful ^{[BACK TO TOP]}

Meaning:

Exceptionally bad or displeasing

Synonyms:

awful; abominable; atrocious; dreadful; terrible; unspeakable; painful

Context examples:

atrocious taste / abominable workmanship / an awful voice / dreadful manners / a painful performance / terrible handwriting / an unspeakable odor came sweeping into the room

Similar:

bad (having undesirable or negative qualities)

Sense 3

dreadful ^{[BACK TO TOP]}

Meaning:

Very unpleasant

Similar:

unpleasant (disagreeable to the senses, to the mind, or feelings)

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