Lexic.us

Definition of Dreadful

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

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

3. Adjective. Very unpleasant.

Definition of Dreadful

1. a. Full of dread or terror; fearful.

Definition of Dreadful

1. Adjective. Causing dread; bad. ¹

2. Noun. A shocking or sensational crime. ¹

3. Noun. A shocking or sensational report of a crime. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Dreadful

1. a publication containing sensational material [n -S]

Medical Definition of Dreadful

1. 1. Full of dread or terror; fearful. "With dreadful heart." 2. Inspiring dread; impressing great fear; fearful; terrible; as, a dreadful storm. " Dreadful gloom." "For all things are less dreadful than they seem." (Wordsworth) 3. Inspiring awe or reverence; awful. "God's dreadful law." Synonym: Fearful, frightful, terrific, terrible, horrible, horrid, formidable, tremendous, awful, venerable. See Frightful. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Dreadful

drayages drayed drayhorse draying drayman draymen drays drazel drazels dread

dread(a) dreadable dreaded dreader dreaders dreadful (current term) dreadfull dreadfully dreadfulness dreadfulnesses

dreadfuls dreading dreadingly dreadless dreadlessness dreadlock dreadlocked dreadlocking dreadlocks dreadly

Literary usage of Dreadful

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

1. The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss, Jenny H. Stickney (1898)
"THE dreadful VISITOR. T WAS sitting next day, with my wife and Fritz, ... That most dreadful of serpents, the boa-constrictor, was crossing the bridge at a ..."

2. Journal of the Plague Year by Daniel Defoe (1895)
"... perhaps, not knowing it themselves, gave the distemper to others, and spread the infection in a dreadful manner, as I shall explain farther hereafter. ..."

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