awful
adjective
UK/ˈɔː.fəl/US/ˈɑː.fəl/
extremely bad or unpleasant
Example Sentences
The weather was awful all weekend, with heavy rain and thunder spoiling any outdoor plans.
He felt awful after realizing that his comments had upset his friend.
I had to throw away the food because it smelled absolutely awful.
They had an awful experience at the hotel due to poor customer service.
This coffee tastes awful; it's far too bitter for my preference.
It’s awful how some people refuse to lend a helping hand when they clearly see someone in distress.
She had an awful headache that made it impossible to focus on her work, especially since bright lights and loud noises only exacerbated her discomfort.
The film received awful reviews, with critics citing weak writing, poor acting, and lackluster cinematography as key factors in its failure.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
Antonyms
How to Use
Describes something shocking in its unpleasantness or dreadfulness, though it once meant inspiring awe or reverence.“Awful” typically denotes very poor quality, deeply negative impressions, or strongly unpleasant experiences. For instance, you might say, “That movie was awful,” signaling intense dissatisfaction or “The food tasted awful,” conveying disgust. In older or more literary contexts, “awful” could reflect awe or grandeur—like “an awful spectacle”—but modern usage nearly always implies something extremely bad or undesirable.People often use “awful” to intensify criticism (“That’s an awful idea!”) or express strong dislike, frustration, or shock about a situation (“The traffic was awful this morning”). It can modify nouns or stand alone as a descriptor, highlighting severity. While casual, it powerfully conveys negative emotional weight, distinguishing “awful” from milder terms such as “bad” or “unpleasant.”
Alternatives
Synonyms vary: “terrible,” “horrible,” “dreadful,” “dire,” and “abysmal” convey similar emphatic negativity. “Terrible” is close in strength, while “horrible” and “dreadful” can imply distressing or horrifying details. “Awful” can also intensify a milder negative: “That coffee is awful!” might be replaced with “That coffee is dreadful!” or “terrible!” Each expresses strong disapproval or negativity. Historically, “awful” once meant “full of awe” or “awe-inspiring,” but that sense has mostly faded, surviving only in rare literary uses or certain religious contexts (“the awful majesty of the cathedral”).
Writing
When using “awful” in formal writing, ensure it aligns with your tone, which is typically more objective. Instead of simply calling something “awful,” you might detail shortcomings or negative outcomes. For example, “The plan proved unsuccessful, producing several adverse effects,” is more formal than “The plan was awful.” In more creative or narrative works, “awful” can emphasize a character’s intense dislike: “She dreaded the awful taste of the medicine.” Keep in mind “awful” is a strong word that implies exceptionally poor quality or a severe negative experience, so consider synonyms or expansions if you need a more measured or nuanced critique.
Casual Conversation
In everyday speech, people say “awful” frequently: “That weather was awful!” “His jokes are awful.” This usage stresses how strongly you dislike something or find it unpleasant. It can also appear in expressions like “I feel awful about missing your birthday,” meaning you have a strong sense of regret or guilt. If used in a playful or exaggerated sense—“That outfit looks awful on me!”—it signals comedic dramatics rather than pure negativity. Friends might also toss it around as a mild intensifier—“It’s awful cold outside,” albeit somewhat colloquial—though some folks might prefer “really cold” or “very cold” for everyday clarity. In short, “awful” in casual use spotlights especially negative or jarring impressions, from small inconveniences to major displeasure. It’s an easy go-to for strong condemnation or disapproval, though overuse can reduce its impact to a generic “very bad” descriptor.
Etymology
“Awful” stems from Old English’s combination of “awe” (intense fear or reverence) plus the suffix “-ful,” implying “full of awe.” In Middle English, “awful” could describe something so majestic or fear-inducing as to inspire awe. Over centuries, the connotation of fear and reverence shifted toward negativity and unpleasantness. The older sense occasionally appears in certain archaic or poetic contexts—like “the awful grandeur of the storm”—but modern usage almost exclusively denotes something extremely bad, loathsome, or distressing.