1
as in horrible
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment
that's an awful thing to say about someone
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in amazing
causing wonder or astonishment
the awful power of Niagara Falls
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3
as in horrific
extremely disturbing or repellent
spare me the awful details of the murder
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4
as in terrible
extremely unsatisfactory
I can't believe I spent good money to see that movie—it was awful
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as in terribly
to a great degree
that's awful sweet of you
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of awful
Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker, 14 Jan. 2025
The intrigue: Chicago experienced this awful downtown traffic at the same time the city saw some of the worst return to office (RTO) rates in the nation.
—Alex Fitzpatrick, Axios, 14 Jan. 2025
Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 26 May 2022
First, there is the question whether the awful-looking restraint maneuver Chauvin used was actually authorized at the time, or at least not clearly forbidden.
—D.j. Tice, Star Tribune, 20 Feb. 2021
See all Example Sentences for awful 
Adjective
One of the awful things about living in a world ruled by systems is that brutal outcomes emerge from them.
—Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker, 14 Jan. 2025
The intrigue: Chicago experienced this awful downtown traffic at the same time the city saw some of the worst return to office (RTO) rates in the nation.
—Alex Fitzpatrick, Axios, 14 Jan. 2025
Adverb
Someone who has worked awful hard, has a great skill set, four years of college, four years of lifting, four years of game-planning at a high level in Division III.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 26 May 2022
First, there is the question whether the awful-looking restraint maneuver Chauvin used was actually authorized at the time, or at least not clearly forbidden.
—D.j. Tice, Star Tribune, 20 Feb. 2021
See all Example Sentences for awful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for awful
Adjective
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Traffic was horrible and the private crews can’t turn on a siren, ignore traffic laws, and drive on the wrong side of the road like public firefighters.—
Joseph Bien-Kahn,
Rolling Stone,
24 Jan. 2025
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Recommended Trump moves from ‘American carnage’ to ‘a horrible betrayal’ in second inaugural Juries also convicted some on charges of seditious conspiracy, which refers to activities that undermine a state without directly attacking it.—
Patrik Jonsson,
The Christian Science Monitor,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The tip is $21,000, which is nice but not amazing, especially given all the dietary restrictions.—
Emma Soren,
Vulture,
28 Jan. 2025
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Available for an amazing 71% off today, the Jabra Elite 85t earbuds deliver quality audio, solid noise cancelation, and a beautiful design.—
Gabriela Vatu,
PCMAG,
28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Beloved Hollywood couple Alison Brie and Dave Franco have teamed up on the big screen a handful of times already but their new collaboration tests their coupledom in new and horrific ways.—
Chris Gardner,
The Hollywood Reporter,
26 Jan. 2025
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Fires shine spotlight on power lines Power lines are again drawing the spotlight as a potential cause of the horrific blazes.—
Bart Jansen,
USA TODAY,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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While this is terrible for the environment, customer satisfaction, and retailers’ bottom lines, the truth is the industry has created a monster and easy and free returns have become the basic consumer expectation.—
Steve Dennis,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
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Gerulaitis’s gallows humour deflects from the fact that his terrible records against Connors and Borg took a big toll on his confidence.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
The Athletic,
22 Jan. 2025
Adverb
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Cardinal Lawrence — Conclave When this selection process kicked off, Cardinal Thomas Lawrence was well-liked and respected but not making waves or campaigning terribly hard to assume the top brass.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
23 Jan. 2025
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No doubt Long and her fellow editorialists might respond that owing to the desperate poverty that was the norm in China not terribly long ago, the Chinese tend to save the fruits of their exports.—
John Tamny,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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An ugly opt in: If there is no trade by Feb. 6, Butler then regains a degree of leverage with the right to invoke his $52.4 million player option next season.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
23 Jan. 2025
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This underscores an ugly truth as to why California’s housing is grossly and unnecessarily expensive, and in short supply.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Away from the bottle-poppers of Mykonos, but hardly removed from the season’s social buzz, the white-washed, flat-roofed villas that wrap the cliffs of Santorini are wonderful places to while away a summer.—
Christopher Cameron,
Robb Report,
27 Jan. 2025
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The melty cheese and crispy bread are a wonderful combination.—
Nick Siano,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Unlike the gruesome, bloodthirsty creatures of classic films and literature, Cullen and his family abstain from drinking the blood of humans.—
Edward Segarra,
USA TODAY,
27 Jan. 2025
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Shanks brilliantly paces the story out with several pieces of foreshadowing, including a rat king as symbolism for toxic codependency, mirroring a gruesome story Tim tells Millie about his father’s death and his mother’s mental health.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
27 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near awful
Cite this Entry
“Awful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/awful. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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