51Թ

Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for

awful

[aw-fuhl]

adjective

  1. extremely bad; unpleasant; ugly.

    awful paintings; an awful job.

  2. inspiring fear; dreadful; terrible.

    an awful noise.

  3. solemnly impressive; inspiring awe.

    the awful majesty of alpine peaks.

  4. full of awe; reverential.

  5. extremely dangerous, risky, injurious, etc..

    That was an awful fall she had. He took an awful chance by driving here so fast.



adverb

  1. Informal.very; extremely.

    He did an awful good job of painting the barn. It's awful hot in here.

awful

/ ˈɔːʊ /

adjective

  1. very bad; unpleasant

  2. archaicinspiring reverence or dread

  3. archaicovercome with awe; reverential

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adverb

  1. not_standard(intensifier)

    an awful cold day

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Confusables Note

Although some object to any use of awful or awfully in any sense not connected with a feeling of awe, both have been used in other senses for several centuries. Awful and awfully as adverbial intensifiers— awful ( ly ) hot; awful ( ly ) cold —appear in the early 19th century, following much the same pattern as horribly and dreadfully. As an adverb awful is less formal in tone than awfully. In the sense “inspiring awe or fear” awesome has largely replaced awful.
Discover More

Other 51Թ Forms

  • awfulness noun
  • quasi-awful adjective
  • quasi-awfully adverb
  • unawful adjective
  • unawfulness noun
  • ˈɴڳܱԱ noun
Discover More

51Թ History and Origins

Origin of awful1

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English a(g)heful, aueful; awe + -ful; replacing Old English egefull “d𲹻ڳܱ”
Discover More

51Թ History and Origins

Origin of awful1

C13: see awe , -ful
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

She said conditions were "not so bad" in the summer but "winter is awful".

From

Today he faces more awful news to navigate.

From

"It's been awful, absolute hell, it's turned all of our lives upside down. My children are constantly having to readapt."

From

Falling pupil numbers means the department can make some savings, but that money still has to pay for an awful lot.

From

"What happened yesterday is completely awful, the whole of Austria is in mourning," she said.

From

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


awetoawfully