51Թ

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View synonyms for

awful

[ aw-fuhl ]

adjective

  1. extremely bad; unpleasant; ugly:

    awful paintings; an awful job.

  2. inspiring fear; dreadful; terrible:

    an awful noise.

  3. solemnly impressive; inspiring awe:

    the awful majesty of alpine peaks.

  4. full of awe; reverential.
  5. extremely dangerous, risky, injurious, etc.:

    That was an awful fall she had. He took an awful chance by driving here so fast.



adverb

  1. Informal. very; extremely:

    He did an awful good job of painting the barn. It's awful hot in here.

awful

/ ˈɔːʊ /

adjective

  1. very bad; unpleasant
  2. archaic.
    inspiring reverence or dread
  3. archaic.
    overcome with awe; reverential
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adverb

  1. not_standard.
    (intensifier)

    an awful cold day

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Confusables Note

Although some object to any use of awful or awfully in any sense not connected with a feeling of awe, both have been used in other senses for several centuries. Awful and awfully as adverbial intensifiers— awful ( ly ) hot; awful ( ly ) cold —appear in the early 19th century, following much the same pattern as horribly and dreadfully. As an adverb awful is less formal in tone than awfully. In the sense “inspiring awe or fear” awesome has largely replaced awful.
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Derived Forms

  • ˈɴڳܱԱ, noun
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • fܱ·Ա noun
  • ܲȴ-fܱ adjective
  • ܲȴ-fܱ·ly adverb
  • ܲ·fܱ adjective
  • un·fܱ·Ա noun
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of awful1

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English a(g)heful, aueful; awe + -ful; replacing Old English egefull “d𲹻ڳܱ”
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of awful1

C13: see awe , -ful
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"It looked horrible, tasted horrible, it was hard and awful - my friends and I still reminisce about it," she says.

From

If home DNA tests had been available earlier, she doesn't think she could have told them the truth "because it would have been so awful".

From

"On the other hand I think, how awful to be in this situation where you think that is the best and only option that you have."

From

Once a scrappy pickup band that played in a high school auditorium with awful acoustics, it is now a world-class ensemble with its own world-class concert hall.

From

In evidence, executive chairman of the nearby Hippodrome, Simon Thomas, said the noise was "tortuous" because of repeated sets and what the judge called "awful renditions".

From

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