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

The Democrats’ strategy of letting Trump be Trump and hoping everyone would finally come around when they saw how awful he was failed again.

From Salon

Sometimes, when I was watching England under Eddie Jones, I was lost - it was awful to watch and I just didn't enjoy going to Twickenham.

From BBC

"Because I felt so wretched and awful in myself."

From BBC

Neither Rubio nor Mike Waltz, who was nominated to be Trump's national security advisor, sparked giddy enthusiasm, but as one European diplomat put it to Politico: "They are a bit less awful than others."

From Salon

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

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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