Dreadful
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˈdɹɛd.fʊl/
Full definition of dreadful
Adjective
dreadful
- Causing dread; very bad.
- 1900, L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Chapter 23"My greatest wish now," she added, "is to get back to Kansas, for Aunt Em will surely think something dreadful has happened to me, and that will make her put on mourning; and unless the crops are better this year than they were last, I am sure Uncle Henry cannot afford it."
- 1918, W. B. Maxwell, The Mirror and the Lamp Chapter 17, This time was most dreadful for Lilian. Thrown on her own resources and almost penniless, she maintained herself and paid the rent of a wretched room near the hospital by working as a charwoman, sempstress, anything. In a moment she had dropped to the level of a casual labourer.
- 2011, December 10, Marc Higginson, Bolton 1-2 Aston Villa, After a dreadful performance in the opening 45 minutes, they upped their game after the break and might have taken at least a point from the match.
Usage notes
Nouns to which "dreadful" is often applied: day, night, state, news, time, secret, storm, mistake, accident, story, dream, havoc, truth, loss, act, life, thought, creature, curse, suffering.