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AWFUL
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I. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Causing fear or dread or terror
Example:
a terrible curse
Synonyms:
awful; dire; direful; dread; dreaded; dreadful; fearful; fearsome; frightening; horrendous; horrific; terrible
Classified under:
Similar:
alarming (frightening because of an awareness of danger)
Derivation:
awfulness (a quality of extreme unpleasantness)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Exceptionally bad or displeasing
Example:
an unspeakable odor came sweeping into the room
Synonyms:
abominable; atrocious; awful; dreadful; painful; terrible; unspeakable
Classified under:
Similar:
bad (having undesirable or negative qualities)
Derivation:
awfulness (a quality of extreme unpleasantness)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Inspiring awe or admiration or wonder
Example:
Westminster Hall's awing majesty, so vast, so high, so silent
Synonyms:
amazing; awe-inspiring; awesome; awful; awing
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
impressive (making a strong or vivid impression)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Offensive or even (of persons) malicious
Example:
Will he say nasty things at my funeral?
Synonyms:
awful; nasty
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
dirty; filthy; lousy (vile; despicable)
grotty (very unpleasant or offensive)
hateful; mean (characterized by malice)
Also:
unpleasant (offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness)
Attribute:
nastiness (the quality of being highly unpleasant)
Derivation:
awfulness (a quality of extreme unpleasantness)
Sense 5
Meaning:
Extreme in degree or extent or amount or impact
Example:
spent a frightful amount of money
Synonyms:
awful; frightful; terrible; tremendous
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
extraordinary (beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable)
Domain usage:
colloquialism (a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech)
Sense 6
Meaning:
Inspired by a feeling of fearful wonderment or reverence
Example:
awful worshippers with bowed heads
Synonyms:
awed; awful
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
reverent (feeling or showing profound respect or veneration)
II. (adverb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Used as intensifiers
Example:
I'm awful sorry
Synonyms:
awful; awfully; frightfully; terribly
Classified under:
Domain usage:
colloquialism (a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech)
Context examples:
Then ’e pulled ’imself straight, an’ ’e gave the most awful Glory Allelujah screech as ever you ’eard.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
The sight of the awful and majestic in nature had indeed always the effect of solemnising my mind and causing me to forget the passing cares of life.
(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)
It was not such an awful voice as she had expected to come from the big Head; so she took courage and answered: I am Dorothy, the Small and Meek.
(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)
There is nothing awful here, nothing melancholy, nothing grand.
(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)
From an official point of view it’s simply awful.
(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
A lamp could not have expired with more awful effect.
(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)
The old fellow's fury was awful.
(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
Three girls, the two eldest sixteen and fourteen, was an awful legacy for a mother to bequeath, an awful charge rather, to confide to the authority and guidance of a conceited, silly father.
(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)
They all looked their assent; it seemed too awful a moment for speech.
(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)
At this awful speech Amy contained herself with difficulty, for the impression was being given that she was rather a fast young lady, which was her especial aversion.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
