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.
JUMP TO:

• 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
See all opposites of dreadful

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Synonyms for Dreadful. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 1, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/synonyms/dreadful
Built for writers, students, and competitive word game players, Wordmom combines an uncluttered English dictionary and thesaurus with fast, pattern-based word finders so you can verify definitions, synonyms, and high-scoring tile plays in one place.
Dictionary & Reference
© 2016–2026 Wordmom Network. All rights reserved. Made with for word lovers everywhere.
Disclaimer: SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A. and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. Words With Friends® is a registered trademark of Zynga Inc. Wordle® is a registered trademark of The New York Times Company. Other referenced game titles and tournament lexicon codes (including NASPA NWL and WESPA/HarperCollins CSW) are trademarks of their respective owners. Wordmom is an independent reference utility for educational and entertainment purposes and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Hasbro, Mattel, Spear, Zynga, The New York Times Company, NASPA, WESPA, or HarperCollins Publishers. All game names are referenced strictly under nominative fair use to indicate compatibility.