DREADFUL Synonyms: 308 Similar and Opposite Words

dreadful

adjective

ˈdred-fəl

Definition of dreadful

as in terrifying

causing fear a dreadful hurricane

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in awful

causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment a dreadful performance of a beautiful piece of music

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in horrific

extremely disturbing or repellent dreadful news of a crime wave in the neighborhood

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in intense

extreme in degree, power, or effect the dreadful heat of the desert

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sheer

having no exceptions or restrictions made a dreadful mess of his first marriage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of dreadful The Braves suffered a dreadful defeat Wednesday in Game 2 of the Wild Card series, squandering a late lead to lose 4-3 to the Phillies and force a winner-take-all Game 3. — Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 1 Oct. 2026 The news, however dreadful, isn’t all that surprising after examining the play in which Horn got hurt on Sunday. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 28 Sep. 2026 There are few things more dreadful to a traveler than a flight itinerary that lasts 24 hours or longer. — Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 2026 Much of that came in a dreadful first half, where the Bills scored touchdowns on their first four possessions and the Lions' defense looked incapable of stopping anything. — Christian Romo, Freep.com, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dreadful

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dreadful

Adjective

What started as a routine bike ride home turned into a terrifying fight for survival for Katherine Marroquin on Sunday night.

— Naveen Dhaliwal, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
In Carroll Gardens, says Cavallo, a house on Henry Street, between Carroll and President, is so terrifying some kids have to cross the street.

— Fiorella Valdesolo, Curbed, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of terrifying

Adjective

Mahomes scrambled to his left and threw an awful interception in the opening half.

— Sam McDowell October 25, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026
Their wins this year have been against a Patriots team that looked awful in Week 1 – with Drew Lock coming in for Darnold early in the game.

— David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of awful

Adjective

What followed was a horrific night of physical and mental spousal abuse, which Adams describes in searing, emotional prose.

— Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026
Recently, Wahid was the lead defense attorney in the death penalty case of a Miami man who pleaded guilty to the horrific triple homicide of his estranged wife and her two young daughters.

— Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of horrific

Adjective

George Bonanno, a psychologist at Columbia University, explains that many people who have intense symptoms initially—such as nightmares and flashbacks—won’t develop PTSD.

— Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Still, the competition among jewelers is becoming more intense, not only for sports team’s commissions but also to design ever flashier pieces with intricate details.

— Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of intense

Adjective

The tracks, the engineers, the data, the media attention, the sheer amount of racing—the Formula 1 World Championship consists of twenty-plus races, on five continents, in nine months.

— Sam Knight, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026
The silhouette was mostly formfitting and streamlined, with emphasis at the hips and waist and a continuation of the contrasting sheer, black fabric running down the column skirt.

— Julia Teti, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of sheer

Adjective

In most versions of the Greek mythology, Medusa is a beautiful woman that was cursed by the goddess Athena with a head of snakes instead of hair and the horrible ability to turn people to stone with just one look.

— Lynsey Eidell, Glamour, 26 Oct. 2026
The battle is between that horrible atmosphere and some of the horrific candidates that have been nominated by the Democratic Party.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of horrible

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Style

“Dreadful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dreadful. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of dreadful

adjective

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