dreadful
DREHD-fl
Dreadful (adj) means Very bad, unpleasant, or shocking. Example: “The weather has been dreadful all week.”
adj
1
Very bad, unpleasant, or shocking.
"The weather has been dreadful all week."
"That was a dreadful thing to say to her."
"The food at that cafe was absolutely dreadful, so we left early."
2
Causing genuine fear or horror.
"They witnessed the dreadful aftermath of the storm."
"A dreadful silence fell over the room as the lights went out."
"The film showed a dreadful monster rising slowly from the lake."
noun
1
A cheaply printed, sensational story or crime report, especially from the 19th century (a "penny dreadful").
"The Victorian boys were forbidden from reading penny dreadfuls."
"He kept a stack of penny dreadfuls under his bed to read at night."
"The museum has a display of old dreadfuls that were sold on street corners."
How to use dreadful
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishVery bad or unpleasant, or (more literally) causing genuine fear.
Common pairings
dreadful weather
a dreadful mistake
penny dreadful
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Word forms
- Plural
- dreadfuls
- Comparative
- more dreadful
- Superlative
- most dreadful
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The weather has been _____ all week.
Etymology
From Middle English dredful, formed from dread plus -ful.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “dreadful” mean?
The word “dreadful” means very bad, unpleasant, or shocking. In plain terms, very bad or unpleasant, or (more literally) causing genuine fear.
How do you pronounce “dreadful”?
“Dreadful” is pronounced DREHD-fl (/ˈdɹɛd.fl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “dreadful” in a sentence?
Here is “dreadful” used in a sentence: “The weather has been dreadful all week.”
What part of speech is “dreadful”?
Depending on how it is used, “dreadful” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “dreadful” come from?
The word “dreadful” comes from Middle English. From Middle English dredful, formed from dread plus -ful.
Is “dreadful” a common word?
“Dreadful” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “dreadful” have?
“Dreadful” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: very bad, unpleasant, or shocking.
What is the difference between "dreadful" and "terrible"?
"Dreadful" and "terrible" are close synonyms, both describing something very bad, unpleasant, or shocking, and are largely interchangeable in everyday British English. "Dreadful" can lean slightly more formal or is often used for emphasis, such as "dreadful weather" or "a dreadful mistake."
What was a "penny dreadful"?
A "penny dreadful" was a cheaply printed, sensational story or crime report, especially from the 19th century, sold for a penny and aimed at a mass audience. The name gave rise to the noun sense of "dreadful" referring to this type of publication.
Is "dreadful" only used for things that are frightening?
No, "dreadful" is most often used more loosely to mean very bad or unpleasant, such as "dreadful traffic" or "a dreadful cold," rather than something genuinely frightening. It can also carry the stronger sense of causing genuine fear or horror in more serious contexts.
