Synonyms for dreadful
ˈdrɛd fəldread·ful

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. dreadful

   Awful should not be used of things which are merely disagreeable or annoying, nor of all that are alarming and terrible, but only of such as bring a solemn awe upon the soul, as in the presence of a superior power; as, the awful hush before the battle. That which is awful arouses an oppressive, that which is august an admiring reverence; we speak of the august presence of a mighty monarch, the awful presence of death. We speak of an exalted station, a grand mountain, an imposing presence, a majestic cathedral, a noble mien, a solemn litany, a stately march, an august assembly, the awful scene of the Judgment Day.

   Synonyms:
   alarming, appalling, august, awful, dire, direful, dread, fearful, frightful, grand, horrible, imposing, majestic, noble, portentous, shocking, solemn, stately, terrible, terrific

   Antonyms:
   base, beggarly, commonplace, contemptible, despicable, humble, inferior, lowly, mean, paltry, undignified, vulgar

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. dreadful

   Synonyms:
   fearful, shocking, monstrous, dire, terrible, frightful, terrific, horrible, alarming, awful

   Antonyms:
   encouraging, inspiriting, assuring, promising, hopeful

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. awful, dire, direful, dread(a), dreaded, dreadful, fearful, fearsome, frightening, horrendous, horrific, terribleadjective

   causing fear or dread or terror

   "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"

   Antonyms:
   pleasant, good, unalarming

2. atrocious, abominable, awful, dreadful, painful, terrible, unspeakableadjective

   exceptionally bad or displeasing

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

   Synonyms:
   irritating, indescribable, indefinable, awful, sore, odious, unnameable, execrable, horrifying, frightful, amazing, horrendous, severe, tremendous, dreaded, dire, afflictive, flagitious, grievous, monstrous, atrocious, ineffable, painful, detestable, awing, awed, wicked, dread(a), awe-inspiring, unspeakable, horrific, nasty, terrible, horrible, abominable, frightening, unutterable, awesome, fearsome, fearful, direful, untellable, ugly

   Antonyms:
   pleasant, unalarming, good

3. dreadfuladjective

   very unpleasant

   Synonyms:
   dread(a), fearful, abominable, painful, dire, terrible, horrendous, fearsome, horrific, unspeakable, dreaded, awful, atrocious, frightening, direful

   Antonyms:
   pleasant, unalarming, good

Editors ContributionRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. hellified

   the accident was hellified. the outfit that girl was wearing was hellified. in urban lifestyle, it could mean it was good or bad, ( out of this world, sharp or offer). extreme.

   Submitted by EJPraise on January 29, 2022  

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. dreadfuladjective

   Synonyms:
   terrible, horrible, horrid, direful, dire, fearful, frightful, terrific, awful, tremendous

2. dreadfuladjective

   Synonyms:
   venerable, awful

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. dreadfuladjective

   Synonyms:
   fearful, terrible, formidable, awful, dread, dire, direful, frightful

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "dreadful":

   terrible, appalling, horrific, horrible, awful, horrendous, horrifying, atrocious, dire, terrifying, frightening, heinous, gruesome, hideous, abominable, shocking, kamala

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How to use dreadful in a sentence?

1. Sophocles:

   How dreadful it is when the right judge judges wrong

2. Samuel Johnson:

   Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.

3. Thomas Groome:

   Even the bishops themselves recognize they have lost their credibility in monitoring this dreadful crisis, without strong oversight by competent lay people, it wont be seen as credible.

4. Arpit Aryan Gupta:

   This is the first time our generation has experienced something like this. No one was prepared for this dreadful scenario.

5. Winnie Mpanju-Shumbusho:

   It's very crucial that the world understands that... malaria can be got rid of. That we're not condemned to live with such a dreadful disease - which is preventable and treatable - beyond our generation, i'm an optimist and I'm hoping to see that in my lifetime.