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Definition of dreadful

dreadful

/ˈdrɛd.fəl/
dread · ful
Adverb:dreadfully
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dreadful Lexical Profile

dreadful Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Extremely bad, unpleasant, or of very poor quality.

Example

"We decided to stay indoors all afternoon because of the dreadful weather."

2

Causing or involving great suffering, fear, or unhappiness; extremely serious or terrible.

Example

"The community came together to support the families affected by the dreadful accident."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

dray
dread
dreaded
dreadful
dreadfully
dreadfulness
dreadlock

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English 'dredful', formed from the noun 'dread' (from Old English 'ondrædan', meaning to fear) plus the suffix '-ful'. Originally meaning 'full of fear' or 'timid', it shifted by the 13th century to mean 'inspiring great fear or awe'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Dreadful. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 1, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/dreadful
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