AWFUL as ADJECTIVE

1. Meaning
   • causing fear or dread or terror
   Synonym(s)
   • dire (what does dire mean?)
   • direful (what does direful mean?)
   • dread(a) (what does dread(a) mean?)
   • dreaded (what does dreaded mean?)
   • dreadful (what does dreadful mean?)
   • fearful (what does fearful mean?)
   • fearsome (what does fearsome mean?)
   • frightening (what does frightening mean?)
   • horrendous (what does horrendous mean?)
   • horrific (what does horrific mean?)
   • terrible (what does terrible mean?)
   Usage Example(s)
   • 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
   Similar To
   • alarming (what does alarming mean?)
2. Meaning
   • exceptionally bad or displeasing
   Synonym(s)
   • abominable (what does abominable mean?)
   • atrocious (what does atrocious mean?)
   • dreadful (what does dreadful mean?)
   • painful (what does painful mean?)
   • terrible (what does terrible mean?)
   • unspeakable (what does unspeakable mean?)
   Usage Example(s)
   • atrocious taste
   • abominable workmanship
   • an awful voice
   • dreadful manners
   • a painful performance
   • terrible handwriting
   • an unspeakable odor came sweeping into the room
   Similar To
   • bad (what does bad mean?)
3. Meaning
   • inspiring awe or admiration or wonder
   Synonym(s)
   • amazing (what does amazing mean?)
   • awe-inspiring (what does awe-inspiring mean?)
   • awesome (what does awesome mean?)
   • awing (what does awing mean?)
   Usage Example(s)
   • New York is an amazing city
   • the Grand Canyon is an awe-inspiring sight
   • the awesome complexity of the universe
   • this sea, whose gently awful stirrings seem to speak of some hidden soul beneath- Melville
   • We
   Similar To
   • impressive (what does impressive mean?)
4. Meaning
   • offensive or even (of persons) malicious
   Synonym(s)
   • nasty (what does nasty mean?)
   Usage Example(s)
   • in a nasty mood
   • a nasty accident
   • a nasty shock
   • a nasty smell
   • a nasty trick to pull
   • Will he say nasty things at my funeral?- Ezra Pound
   Antonym(s)
   • nice (what does nice mean?)
   Similar To
   • dirty (what does dirty mean?)
   • filthy (what does filthy mean?)
   • lousy (what does lousy mean?)
   • grotty (what does grotty mean?)
   • hateful (what does hateful mean?)
   • mean (what does mean mean?)
   • unpleasant (what does unpleasant mean?)
   See Also
   • unpleasant (what does unpleasant mean?)
   Attribute(s)
   • nastiness (what does nastiness mean?)
5. Meaning
   • inspired by a feeling of fearful wonderment or reverence
   Synonym(s)
   • awed (what does awed mean?)
   Usage Example(s)
   • awed by the silence
   • awful worshippers with bowed heads
   Similar To
   • reverent (what does reverent mean?)

AWFUL as ADVERB

1. Meaning
   • used as intensifiers
   Synonym(s)
   • awfully (what does awfully mean?)
   • frightfully (what does frightfully mean?)
   • terribly (what does terribly mean?)
   Usage Example(s)
   • terribly interesting
   • I”m awful sorry