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

As a Justice alumnus, I’m confident that department veterans of both parties see Gaetz’s selection as perfectly awful.

From Los Angeles Times

We knew there wasn’t an awful lot we could do beyond just make cuts and showcase the moments that we thought were the best representations of the show.

From Los Angeles Times

I know, it’s not much of a consolation, but it’s something better than awful in these dark times.

From Los Angeles Times

“I felt just awful. I remember racking my brain because I didn’t know what to do. I often explain that autism for me feels like everyone read this social skills rule book except for me, but I’m still expected to take the test. At that moment, I felt at a loss.”

From Los Angeles Times

Conservative comedian Dave Smith said Tuesday that the pick was a "disaster" and an "awful sign."

From Salon

Related Words

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