1
as in horrible
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment
that's an awful thing to say about someone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in amazing
causing wonder or astonishment
the awful power of Niagara Falls
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in horrific
extremely disturbing or repellent
spare me the awful details of the murder
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in terrible
extremely unsatisfactory
I can't believe I spent good money to see that movie—it was awful
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in terribly
to a great degree
that's awful sweet of you
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of awful
Michael Russo, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
The awful crack of a whip, obscured by a mind-melting roar, backgrounds a litany of black-and-white photographs, of young men who were tortured at the Dozier School.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2024
Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 26 May 2022
First, there is the question whether the awful-looking restraint maneuver Chauvin used was actually authorized at the time, or at least not clearly forbidden.
—D.j. Tice, Star Tribune, 20 Feb. 2021
See all Example Sentences for awful 
Adjective
That reality became evident to even him and put him in an awful head space those first few weeks to a month with Iowa.
—Michael Russo, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
The awful crack of a whip, obscured by a mind-melting roar, backgrounds a litany of black-and-white photographs, of young men who were tortured at the Dozier School.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2024
Adverb
Someone who has worked awful hard, has a great skill set, four years of college, four years of lifting, four years of game-planning at a high level in Division III.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 26 May 2022
First, there is the question whether the awful-looking restraint maneuver Chauvin used was actually authorized at the time, or at least not clearly forbidden.
—D.j. Tice, Star Tribune, 20 Feb. 2021
See all Example Sentences for awful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for awful
Adjective
-
Despite Fraser Forster making a couple of horrible mistakes in the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Manchester United, then conceding six against Liverpool, the wisest move might be to sign a younger back-up goalkeeper for the long-term.Jack Pitt-Brooke, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024
-
Specifically, Trump often points to the horrible human costs of the war and indicates a desire to put an end to the fighting as soon as possible.Samuel Charap, Foreign Affairs, 24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Expect opulent craft cocktails, Champagne and wine, plus caviar, oysters and light bites/shareables, presented in a space with amazing views and a Googie design.Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 17 Dec. 2024
-
So everybody was just trying to ask something of me, which was an amazing thing.Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Former detainees at the horrific Saydnaya prison near Damascus said Amer had disappeared in mid-April 2015 after being tortured there.Raja Razek, CNN, 16 Dec. 2024
-
Eric Gordon was also supposed to provide some secondary ball-handling off the bench in theory, but the soon-to-be 36-year-old is off to a horrific start this season.Bryan Toporek, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
That would be a terrible mistake, the Fienberg brothers argued in a Dec. 17 letter that addressed only Bowers’s federal death sentence.David Mark, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 22 Dec. 2024
-
People talk about the terrible twos, but she’s found her foothold in that kind of behavior, and there’s just no reasoning with her.Alex Morris, Rolling Stone, 21 Dec. 2024
Adverb
-
All, that is, except the lamb, which was only a baby itself and still terribly afraid.Karen Zautyk, New York Daily News, 24 Dec. 2024
-
MacHale tried to assist by arranging a team-building trip, but the gesture ultimately backfired on him terribly.Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
After yet another ugly showing, that’s the question Yzerman may have to spend his holiday pondering.Max Bultman, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 2024
-
Before us, Aghdam, once a vibrant urban hub, exposed the ugly scars of war.Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
The residents of this wonderful city hold a special place in my heart.Melissa Noel, Essence, 16 Dec. 2024
-
Watch The Small One on Disney+ Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas This short holiday special catches up with the Ice Age characters at the most wonderful time of the year … well, in theory.Sydni Ellis, People.com, 15 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Prehistoric Rock Art Sites Created 'Multisensory Experience' For Hunter-Gatherers By Aristos Georgiou Science and Health Reporter 0 A collection of prehistoric human remains has revealed gruesome insights into a brutal massacre that took place more than 4,000 years ago.Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
-
Police think the gruesome gunshot death is suicide.Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near awful
Cite this Entry
“Awful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/awful. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share