1
as in terrifying
causing fear
a dreadful hurricane
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in awful
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment
a dreadful performance of a beautiful piece of music
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3
as in horrific
extremely disturbing or repellent
dreadful news of a crime wave in the neighborhood
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4
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
the dreadful heat of the desert
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5
as in sheer
having no exceptions or restrictions
made a dreadful mess of his first marriage
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dreadful
Like other Roald Dahl books, this one has its share of dreadful characters – this time two of them are front and center.
—
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
The Braves have had dreadful production in left field, with four players (including Profar’s four games) combining to post a .554 OPS before Tuesday that ranked 29th in the majors at the position.
—David O'Brien, New York Times, 18 June 2025
Uncertainty again: is this a positive position to be in, or a harbinger of something dreadful that will strike us?
—Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Well, to start with, the renderings of the interior — meant to show it at its best and brightest — look dreadful.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dreadful
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
The Braves have had dreadful production in left field, with four players (including Profar’s four games) combining to post a .554 OPS before Tuesday that ranked 29th in the majors at the position.
—David O'Brien, New York Times, 18 June 2025
Uncertainty again: is this a positive position to be in, or a harbinger of something dreadful that will strike us?
—Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Well, to start with, the renderings of the interior — meant to show it at its best and brightest — look dreadful.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dreadful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dreadful
Adjective
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The previous version of the immersive attraction brought guests face to face with the terrifying flickering TV screen, the menacing beast from beyond, and the pool filled with floating corpses.—
Simon Thompson,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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Rather than playing with the achromatic aesthetic of the terrifying teenager, Ortega and Inglessis focused on nude, earth tones.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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That said, the pitching is in an awful place right now, though rookie Chase Dollander’s performance Monday night at St. Louis was heartening.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
13 Aug. 2025
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This man has saved countless kids from being groomed, has raised awareness to millions about these condo games and the awful things pedophiles will do to get their hands on children, and he's comforted people literally just like me who've gone through the exact thing.—
Jill Duffy,
PC Magazine,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The Yogurt Shop Murders is based on a true story of a horrific crime back in 1991, one that many people may not have heard of.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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The situation for the hostages is absolutely horrific as well.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The community’s response is intense: panicked and bereaved mothers and fathers turn on Justine, indirectly a victim herself; misguided outrage blinds them to the real menace operating unimpeded in their midst.—
Andy Crump,
Time,
9 Aug. 2025
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As climate change fuels longer, more intense fire seasons, officials warn that the crisis may persist for weeks.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Founder Samantha Brett emphasizes layering SPF over makeup, with formulas like their Beauty Screen Mineral Tints providing SPF50 protection in a sheer, wearable finish.—
Laia Farran Graves,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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The look was finished with a silk tulle veil, crystal beaded Manolo Blahnik satin sandals and a pair of sheer elbow gloves.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The sandwich, featuring ground meat—generally beef—suspended in a thick, sweet tomatoey sauce, has become an avatar of the horrible school lunch, a cliché that tends to go along with hairnets, greasy aprons, and other elements of canteen grotesquerie.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
17 Aug. 2025
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The stories have overflowed with a horrible, glorious narrative abundance.—
Lyz Lenz,
Rolling Stone,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The Navy must address the ugly fact that, despite all the security America can provide, a diverse array of enemies, rivals and criminals can shut the Panama Canal down at virtually any time.—
Craig Hooper,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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In the ugliest defeat of a season belatedly compiling them, the New York Mets blew an early 6-0 lead Wednesday to fall to the Atlanta Braves 11-6.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The gruesome deaths of the two beloved teens shook and forever changed the small Indiana community.—
Kristine Phillips,
IndyStar,
1 Aug. 2025
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The list includes redshirt junior nose tackle Jamari Lyons, back from a gruesome ankle injury, athletic 6-foot-2 ½, 244-pound sophomore linebacker Aaron Chiles and redshirt cornerback Cormani McClain.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dreadful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dreadful. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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