direful

American  

[dahyuhr-fuhl] / ˈdaɪər fəl /

adjective

1. dreadful; awful; terrible.

2. indicating trouble.

   direful forecasts.

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Other Word Forms

• direfully adverb
• direfulness noun

Etymology

Origin of direful

First recorded in 1575–85; dire + -ful

Example Sentences

But at this direful moment she who had awakened no compassion in mortals or immortals was pitied by the tiniest creatures of the field, the little ants, the swift-runners.

From Literature

But less than 400 years after Columbus’ direful voyage, white settlers pushed their way west into Native American territory in so-called manifest destiny.

From The Guardian

I always say there is something direful in that sound.'

From BBC

Pliny the Elder, writing in the first century AD, called them prophetic, direful and accursed.

From The Guardian

This is truly bad horsemanship, and leads to many direful results.

From Project Gutenberg