English word

Dreadful

Definitions

adjective

  1. inspiring dread (see dread entry 2 sense 1a) : causing great and oppressive fear
  2. inspiring awe or reverence
  3. extremely bad, distasteful, unpleasant, or shocking
  4. extreme

Synonyms for dreadful

Closest evidence-backed alternatives.

Synonyms by context

Shocking, especially in a manner tending to cause fear or dread

adjective

  • horrifying
  • ghastly

Extremely awful or disagreeable

adjective

Very bad or lackluster in standard or quality

adjective

Antonyms for dreadful

Opposite of shocking, especially in a manner tending to cause fear or dread

Opposite of extremely awful or disagreeable

  • innocuous
  • inoffensive
  • agreeable
  • pleasant
  • harmless
  • innocent
  • safe
  • unobjectionable
  • anodyne
  • benign

Opposite of significant or extreme in degree or intensity

Phrases

  • causing fear
  • deeply distressing
  • from hell
  • out of the ordinary
  • suggestive of evil