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Definition of affreux

affreux

/æˈfrɜː/
af · freux
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affreux Lexical Profile

• adjective

1

Frightful, horrible, or ghastly in appearance, nature, or character.

Example

"The art critic mercilessly dismissed the controversial new sculpture as an affreux monstrosity that ruined the elegant aesthetic of the plaza."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for affreux
Antonyms
View all antonyms for affreux

Word Nuance & Usage

As a direct borrowing from French, 'affreux' is highly rare in English and is typically used for literary effect or to impart a distinctly Francophone flavor when describing something dreadful or hideous.

• Rhymes for affreux

• Nearby Words

affordability
affordable
affordably
affreux
affront
afghan
afghanistan

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from French 'affreux' (frightful, horrible), derived from Old French 'afre' (terror, horror), which is ultimately of Germanic origin.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Affreux. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/affreux
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