The word “dreadful” describes something that is extremely bad, unpleasant, or alarming. It often conveys a strong sense of fear, unease, or disapproval. While commonly used to highlight situations or conditions that are intolerable or distressing, it can also describe poor quality or severe consequences. In some contexts, “dreadful” is applied to emphasize the severity of something, even when it is not literally frightening, such as a dreadful mistake or dreadful weather. Its tone often indicates heightened negative intensity.
10 Sentences Using “Dreadful”:
- The meal was dreadful, and I couldn’t finish a single bite.
- She made a dreadful error in her calculations, costing the team valuable time.
- The movie received dreadful reviews from critics and audiences alike.
- The dreadful storm destroyed many homes in the coastal region.
- His dreadful behavior at the meeting embarrassed everyone present.
- We faced dreadful traffic on the way to the airport and missed our flight.
- The dreadful state of the house showed years of neglect.
- The news of the accident was dreadful and left everyone in shock.
- After weeks of drought, the dreadful condition of the crops became evident.
- Her dreadful singing made the audience cover their ears in discomfort.
Synonyms of “Dreadful”:
- Awful
- Terrible
- Horrible
- Atrocious
- Abominable
- Appalling
- Ghastly
- Hideous
- Disastrous
- Revolting
Antonyms of “Dreadful”:
- Wonderful
- Delightful
- Excellent
- Superb
- Marvelous
- Splendid
- Fantastic
- Pleasing
- Lovely
- Outstanding
Related Words:
- Fearful
- Distressing
- Alarming
- Horrid
- Shocking
- Repugnant
- Intolerable
- Miserable
- Unsightly
- Grim
Related Expressions:
- “A dreadful mistake” (a significant, unpleasant error).
- “Dreadful weather” (severe or unpleasant atmospheric conditions).
- “Dreadful state” (a very poor or bad condition).
- “A dreadful sight” (something highly unpleasant or disturbing to look at).
- “Dreadful experience” (a terrible or unpleasant incident).
- “Feel dreadful” (to feel guilty, unwell, or uncomfortable).
- “Dreadful noise” (a very unpleasant or harsh sound).
- “A dreadful loss” (a tragic or significant negative outcome).
- “Dreadful consequence” (a severe or unpleasant result of an action).
- “Look dreadful” (to appear tired, unwell, or unattractive).
Related Phrasal Verbs:
- “Mess up” (to cause a dreadful situation).
- “Fall apart” (to deteriorate into a dreadful condition).
- “Let down” (to disappoint, resulting in a dreadful feeling).
- “Turn into” (to transform into something dreadful).
- “Work through” (to deal with a dreadful problem).
- “Get through” (to survive a dreadful experience).
- “Break down” (to fail or collapse in a dreadful manner).
- “Put up with” (to tolerate something dreadful).
- “Run into” (to encounter a dreadful problem or situation).
- “Sort out” (to resolve a dreadful mess or confusion).
Related Idioms:
- “A hard pill to swallow” (a dreadful truth that is difficult to accept).
- “In hot water” (in trouble or a dreadful situation).
- “Between a rock and a hard place” (faced with two dreadful choices).
- “A thorn in the side” (a persistent and dreadful annoyance).
- “The straw that broke the camel’s back” (the final dreadful incident in a series).
- “Walking on thin ice” (being in a precarious or dreadful situation).
- “Hit rock bottom” (to reach the most dreadful point).
- “Add insult to injury” (to make a dreadful situation worse).
- “The writing on the wall” (a clear sign of a dreadful outcome).
- “A storm in a teacup” (a seemingly dreadful issue that is actually minor).
