Lexic.us

Definition of Awful

1. Adverb. Used as intensifiers. "I'm awful sorry"

2. Adjective. Exceptionally bad or displeasing. "An unspeakable odor came sweeping into the room"

3. Adjective. Causing fear or dread or terror. "A terrible curse"

4. Adjective. Offensive or even (of persons) malicious. "Will he say nasty things at my funeral?"

5. Adjective. Inspired by a feeling of fearful wonderment or reverence. "Awful worshippers with bowed heads"

6. Adjective. Extreme in degree or extent or amount or impact. "Spent a frightful amount of money"

7. Adjective. Inspiring awe or admiration or wonder. "Westminster Hall's awing majesty, so vast, so high, so silent"

Definition of Awful

1. a. Oppressing with fear or horror; appalling; terrible; as, an awful scene.

Definition of Awful

1. Adjective. Oppressing with fear or horror; appalling, terrible. ¹

2. Adjective. (rare) Inspiring awe; filling with profound reverence or respect; profoundly impressive. ¹

3. Adjective. Struck or filled with awe. ¹

4. Adjective. (obsolete) Terror-stricken. ¹

5. Adjective. Worshipful; reverential; law-abiding. ¹

6. Adjective. Exceedingly great; usually applied intensively. ¹

7. Adjective. Very bad. ¹

8. Adverb. (colloquial) Very, extremely; as, an '''awful''' big house. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Awful

1. extremely bad or unpleasant [adj -FULLER, -FULLEST] : AWFULLY [adv]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Awful

awesome awesome-sauce awesome sauce awesomely awesomeness awesomenesses awesomenessness awesomer awesomesauce awesomest

awesometastic awestricken awestruck aweto awetos awful (current term) awfulest awfull awfuller awfullest

awfully awfulness awfulnesses awhape awhaped awhapes awhaping awheel awheels awhile

Literary usage of Awful

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Book of Humorous Verse by Carolyn Wells (1920)
"Nothin' ever seems to suit— The manager's an awful brute; ... Ain't it awful, Mabel? Met a boy last Tuesday night, Was spendin' money left and right— Me, ..."

2. A General Collection of the Best and Most Interesting Voyages and Travels in by John Pinkerton (1808)
"... of the Harbour—An awful Calamity— Reflexions. The entrance of the harbour is narrow and dangerous, being fenced on each fide by a range of precipices. ..."

3. Notes and Queries by Martim de Albuquerque (1853)
"For “an awful rule” I propose to substitute and lawful rule, as agreeing better with the text ... The words “an awful” are as clearly to my mind and lawful. ..."

4. A Tramp Abroad by Mark Twain (1906)
"0 THE awful GERMAN LANGUAGE A little learning makes the whole world kin.— Proverbs xxxii, J. I WENT often to look at the collection of curiosities in ..."

Other Resources: