direful

[ dahyuhr-fuhl ]

/ ˈdaɪər fəl /

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adjective

dreadful; awful; terrible.

indicating trouble: direful forecasts.

QUIZ

CUDDLE UP! A COZY QUIZ ON FALL WORDS HAS ARRIVED

If autumn is your ideal season, spice up your repertoire of "fall" vocabulary with this quiz on some warm and vivid descriptive words for the season.

Question 1 of 10

Which of the following words means “to make a crackling sound; crackle”?

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Origin of direful

First recorded in 1575–85; dire + -ful

dire·ful·ly, adverbdire·ful·ness, noun

Riding forward, Moffat and Waterboer found a young woman belonging to the Mantatees, whose whole appearance denoted direful want.
Robert Moffat|David J. Deane
Ever since leaving England Charles and his followers had suffered from the most direful impecuniosity.
Belgium|George W. T. (George William Thomson) Omond
The Pope smiled when he saw his mighty frame and sinews of iron—a direful foe of the infidels!
God Wills It!|William Stearns Davis
Save for a mouthful of bread while he buckled on his armor, he had tasted none that direful day.
God Wills It!|William Stearns Davis

And as I reeled over the smoke, I saw you in direful peril, clutched by wanton hands, facing a fate worse than death!
God Wills It!|William Stearns Davis