Find Synonyms
dreadful Synonyms
Another word for dreadful
Choosing another word for dreadful depends on context, so the 15 synonyms and similar words below are separated across 2 exact definitions and ranked by match strength.
• adjective (Context 1)
Extremely bad, unpleasant, or of very poor quality.
Usage Example
"We decided to stay indoors all afternoon because of the awful weather."
Strongest
awful
atrocious
abysmal
Strong
wretched
lousy
deplorable
pitiful
• adjective (Context 2)
Causing or involving great suffering, fear, or unhappiness; extremely serious or terrible.
Usage Example
"The community came together to support the families affected by the terrible accident."
Strongest
terrible
horrible
awful
frightful
Strong
appalling
horrendous
ghastly
dire
tragic
Opposites of dreadful
The opposite of dreadful shifts depending on context. Common opposites include:
excellent
wonderful
superb
delightful
splendid
marvelous
pleasant
fortunate
• Nearby Words
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Synonyms for Dreadful. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 1, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/synonyms/dreadful