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View synonyms for awful

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
“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
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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.
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Derived Forms

  • ˈawfulness, noun
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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
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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”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of awful1

C13: see awe , -ful
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Example Sentences

Besides, Schalke’s awful season heightened the need to introduce fresh talent.

There’s a lot of stuff that is lawful, but awful, and the government can’t regulate that away with or without Section 230.

That’s down from about 55,000 a year ago — but it’s still an awful lot of people.

All it takes is one person dropping in on you to generate awful thoughts about humankind.

While the reduction in numbers is a big improvement over a packed venue, Swartzberg says, “It’s still an awful lot of people to bring into a stadium.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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