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

How to pronounce dreadful?

How to say dreadful in sign language?

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use dreadful in a sentence?

1. John Steinbeck, East of Eden:

   There's more beauty in truth, even if it is dreadful beauty.

2. Helga Skoczowsky:

   The noise was dreadful... the light went out... the chimney tops blew off. We were covered in black, we had no eyelashes left, our lips were all crusty from the soot and we were all dirty and in the dark.

3. Bob Arum:

   Bob Arum responded by telling the Post that Terence Crawford is claiming racism to cover up Terence Crawford own failures. Do n’t call a man a racist when really this is because of your own failures, his marketability did n’t measure up to this ability and that has absolutely nothing to do with what race he is … The outstanding fact is that Terence’s numbers on PPV have always been dreadful because of his failure to market himself.

4. Prime Minister David Cameron:

   We have lost a great star, she was a great campaigning MP with huge compassion, with a big heart. It is dreadful, dreadful news.

5. Jacqueline Job:

   Ignorance is a dangerous and dreadful disease.