English dictionary
awful
adjectivePronunciation
ˈɔːfʊl
Audio pronunciation
Parts of speech
Definitions
adjective
- causing fear or dread or terror
adjective
- exceptionally bad or displeasing
adjective
- inspiring awe or admiration or wonder
adjective
- offensive or even (of persons) malicious
adjective
- extreme in degree or extent or amount or impact
adjective
- inspired by a feeling of fearful wonderment or reverence
adverb
- used as intensifiers
Example sentences
the awful war
an awful risk
dire news
a career or vengeance so direful that London was shocked
the dread presence of the headmaster
atrocious taste
abominable workmanship
an awful voice
dreadful manners
a painful performance
New York is an amazing city
the Grand Canyon is an awe-inspiring sight
the awesome complexity of the universe
{'source': 'Melville', 'text': 'this sea, whose gently awful stirrings seem to speak of some hidden soul beneath'}
Westminster Hall's awing majesty, so vast, so high, so silent
in a nasty mood
a nasty accident
a nasty shock
a nasty smell
a nasty trick to pull
in a frightful hurry
spent a frightful amount of money
awed by the silence
awful worshippers with bowed heads
terribly interesting
I'm awful sorry