Awful meaning

What does “awful” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“awful” is an adjective and adverb with 7 meanings. Its most common meaning is: exceptionally bad or displeasing.

awful

exceptionally bad or displeasing
“atrocious taste”
“abominable workmanship”
Synonymsatrocious abominable dreadful painful terrible unspeakable
causing fear or dread or terror
“the awful war”
“an awful risk”
Synonymsdire direful dread dreaded dreadful fearful fearsome frightening
offensive or even (of persons) malicious
“in a nasty mood”
“a nasty accident”
Synonymsnasty
inspired by a feeling of fearful wonderment or reverence
“awed by the silence”
“awful worshippers with bowed heads”
Synonymsawed
extreme in degree or extent or amount or impact
“in a frightful hurry”
“spent a frightful amount of money”
Synonymsfrightful terrible tremendous
inspiring awe or admiration or wonder
“New York is an amazing city”
“the Grand Canyon is an awe-inspiring sight”
Synonymsamazing awe-inspiring awesome awing

used as intensifiers
“terribly interesting”
“I'm awful sorry”
Synonymsterribly awfully frightfully

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University