dreadful Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite causing fear or dread or terror
    direful; horrific; fearful; frightening; terrible; dread; dire; horrendous; awful; dreaded; fearsome.
    • the awful war
    • an awful risk
    • dire news
    • a career or vengeance so direful that London was shocked
    • the dread presence of the headmaster
    • polio is no longer the dreaded disease it once was
    • a dreadful storm
    • a fearful howling
    • horrendous explosions shook the city
    • a terrible curse
  2. adjective satellite exceptionally bad or displeasing
    atrocious; terrible; unspeakable; awful; abominable; painful.
    • atrocious taste
    • abominable workmanship
    • an awful voice
    • dreadful manners
    • a painful performance
    • terrible handwriting
    • an unspeakable odor came sweeping into the room
  3. adjective satellite very unpleasant

WordNet

Dread"ful adjective
Definitions
  1. Full of dread or terror; fearful. Obs. "With dreadful heart." Chaucer.
  2. Inspiring dread; impressing great fear; fearful; terrible; as, a dreadful storm. " Dreadful gloom." Milton.
    For all things are less dreadful than they seem. Wordsworth.
  3. Inspiring awe or reverence; awful. Obs. "God's dreadful law." Shak. Syn. -- Fearful; frightful; terrific; terrible; horrible; horrid; formidable; tremendous; awful; venerable. See Frightful.

Webster 1913