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
San Antonio also unloaded its worst recent mistake, a dreadful contract extension for Zach Collins that would have paid him $18 million next year.
—
John Hollinger, The Athletic, 12 Feb. 2025
For the Giants, the seats are hotter than ever for head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen, who return despite last year’s dreadful 3-14 campaign.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2025
One reason this process feels so dreadful is because the average American doesn’t understand how the tax code works.
—Zoe Callaway, Orange County Register, 4 Feb. 2025
Their defense was dreadful, which led to a meeting between star guard Tyrese Haliburton and a few coaches.
—Tony East, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dreadful
John Hollinger, The Athletic, 12 Feb. 2025
For the Giants, the seats are hotter than ever for head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen, who return despite last year’s dreadful 3-14 campaign.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2025
One reason this process feels so dreadful is because the average American doesn’t understand how the tax code works.
—Zoe Callaway, Orange County Register, 4 Feb. 2025
Their defense was dreadful, which led to a meeting between star guard Tyrese Haliburton and a few coaches.
—Tony East, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dreadful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dreadful
Adjective
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His first book, Dark Days vividly and unflinchingly chronicled his terrifying experience being jailed on charges of manslaughter (he was acquitted on all counts).—
Bill Kopp,
SPIN,
20 Feb. 2025
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For those who have watched DOGE storm into their workplace, what is perhaps most terrifying is its attempts to scale.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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For a large part, the Heat’s supporting pieces have been awful this season.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Feb. 2025
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Hollywood continued to celebrate the fearless first responders who worked to save lives and property during the awful Los Angeles wildfires last month.—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Once the fighting stops the horrific Russian losses of men and machines become daily additions to the armed forces.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
20 Feb. 2025
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On the left, contemporary progressives have denounced the original progressive for his horrific opinions of black Americans.—
Christian Schneider,
National Review,
20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The pace is intense and the pressure can be overwhelming.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 2025
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That was the idea of having this riff that was gonna be really intense, and probably pretty majestic as well, but quite intriguing.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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But the sheer artistry lies in the fact that any single one of these fights could have won the category.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2025
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As for throwback hits, Barbra Streisand’s sheer jumpsuit by Arnold Scaasi, worn in 1969, is proof that having fun on the carpet always wins, as does Salma Hayek’s Armani look in 1997, complete with a tiara.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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There are so many horrible things happening in the world.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2025
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Still, a light at the end of this very horrible long tunnel might be a bit more visible at this time.—
Greg Palkot,
Fox News,
15 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Or the constitutional dystopia in which we are now caught, beside which even the ugliest onscreen villainy pales into insignificance?—
Justin Chang,
The New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2025
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The advanced metrics paint an ugly picture for the Suns as well over that span: 114.0 OffRtg (11th), 117.3 DefRtg (27th), -3.2 NetRtg (21st).—
Evan Sidery,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The gruesome murder occurred after an argument about fraudulent credit card charges, prosecutors said.—
Muri Assunção,
New York Daily News,
20 Feb. 2025
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Over everything hovers the gruesome mystery of birth, that unnerving manifestation of female destiny by which a small person is formed within a larger one and bursts out like the alien in Alien.—
Stephanie Bunbury,
Deadline,
18 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dreadful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dreadful. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.
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