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

/ ˈɔːfʊl /

adjective

1. very bad; unpleasant
2. archaic.
   inspiring reverence or dread
3. archaic.
   overcome with awe; reverential

adverb

1. not_standard.
   (intensifier)

   an awful cold day

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.

Derived Forms

• ˈawfulness, noun

Other Words From

• awful·ness noun
• quasi-awful adjective
• quasi-awful·ly adverb
• un·awful adjective
• un·awful·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of awful¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of awful¹

C13: see awe , -ful

Example Sentences

Yes, we do typically do better than Europe (and Canada, too, which is frequently awful on this score).

From The Daily Beast

The simple, awful truth is that free speech has never been particularly popular in America.

From The Daily Beast

However, not all awful, astoundingly dumb political memes are created equal.

From The Daily Beast

I lost my mother five years ago… she was only 68, so that was pretty awful.

From The Daily Beast

The results were awful: marked osteoporosis in the spine, hip, and femur.

From The Daily Beast

But when you are there, the awful secret of conspiracy will not be revealed in caverns, dungeons, and darkness.

From Project Gutenberg

I begged him to come down here, but he wouldn't—says that his hand is no longer steady enough to hold a gun—it's awful!

From Project Gutenberg

It burst upon them ere long with awful fury and grandeur, the elements warring with incredible vehemence.

From Project Gutenberg

"I declare, wife, that was an awful accident over to the mills," said Mr. Slocum.

From Project Gutenberg

Bubby, why don't you go home and have your mother sew up that awful hole in your trowsers?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• appalling
• atrocious
• depressing
• dire
• disgusting
• distressing
• dreadful
• frightful
• ghastly
• gruesome
• harrowing
• hideous
• horrendous
• horrible
• horrific
• horrifying
• nasty
• shocking
• tough
• ugly