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dreadful

adj. · adv. · n.
US //ˈdɹɛdfəɫ// UK //dɹˈɛdfəl// dread·ful
  1. 1 very bad or unpleasant (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    extremely bad, low quality, or very unpleasant.

    extremely disagreeable, shocking, or of very poor quality.

    Example

    The weather was absolutely dreadful, so we stayed inside all day.

    Example

    The performance was truly dreadful, characterized by missed cues and a complete lack of chemistry between the lead actors.
  2. 2 causing fear or awe (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Literary

    causing a feeling of great fear or respect.

    inspiring dread, awe, or apprehension; often used in a literary context to describe something powerful and frightening.

    Example

    The army faced a dreadful challenge as they crossed the mountains.

    Example

    The explorer spoke of the dreadful silence of the arctic wastes, where the only sound was the shifting of the ice.
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  1. 3 extremely (adv.)
    C1 Advanced Informal British English

    used to mean 'very' or 'extremely' when you are talking about something bad.

    functioning as an intensifier meaning 'extremely' or 'very'; typically modifies adjectives with negative connotations.

    Example

    I am dreadful sorry for being so late to the dinner.

    Example

    He looked dreadful pale after the accident, though the doctors assured us his injuries were minor.

    Usage

    Usually placed before an adjective.
  2. 4 cheap sensational stories (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Archaic

    a cheap book or newspaper from the past that told shocking stories about crimes.

    a sensationalist or lurid publication, typically from the 19th century, focusing on crime and horror.

    Example

    The young boy spent his coins on a dreadful filled with ghost stories.

    Example

    Victorian critics often condemned the 'penny dreadful' for its supposed corrupting influence on the working-class youth of London.
Origin

From Middle English dredful, dredfull, dredeful (also dreful), equivalent to dread + -ful.

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