Synonyms of awful

awful 1 of 2

adjective

ˈȯ-fəl 

1

as in horrible

causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment

that's an awful thing to say about someone

Synonyms & Similar Words

• horrible
• ugly
• disgusting
• hideous
• sickening
• dreadful
• shocking
• obscene
• obnoxious
• offensive
• nasty
• unpleasant
• terrible
• evil
• appalling
• horrid
• abominable
• horrendous
• horrific
• loathsome
• gross
• odious
• gruesome
• revolting
• repulsive
• abhorrent
• repugnant
• distasteful
• scandalous
• noxious
• nauseating
• nauseous
• undesirable
• repellent
• foul
• rancid
• disturbing
• vile
• noisome
• fulsome
• repellant
• hateful
• unwanted
• miserable
• monstrous
• horrifying
• objectionable
• disagreeable
• grim
• detestable
• atrocious
• despicable
• contemptible
• heinous
• sick
• ghastly
• unspeakable
• unhealthy
• nightmarish
• lousy
• frightful
• unwholesome
• execrable
• brackish
• hard
• grisly
• exceptionable
• unwelcome
• sickly
• unsavory
• dislikeable
• barbarous
• macabre
• ungodly
• upsetting
• lurid
• dislikable
• unholy
• uncivilized
• sickish
• distressing
• unchristian
• off-putting
• grewsome

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• acceptable
• innocuous
• pleasant
• desirable
• delightful
• nice
• attractive
• delicious
• sweet
• inoffensive
• enjoyable
• agreeable
• appealing
• heavenly
• alluring
• satisfying
• pleasurable
• welcome
• dreamy
• congenial
• pleasing
• gratifying
• blessed
• darling
• luscious
• likeable
• likable
• delectable
• palatable
• felicitous
• blest
• inviting
• savoury
• savory
• dulcet
• unobjectionable
• unexceptionable
• healthy
• wholesome
• healthful
• salutary
• salubrious
• restorative
• delightsome

2

as in amazing

causing wonder or astonishment

the awful power of Niagara Falls

Synonyms & Similar Words

• amazing
• wonderful
• marvellous
• astonishing
• miraculous
• surprising
• incredible
• marvelous
• stunning
• sublime
• awesome
• staggering
• extraordinary
• impressive
• stupendous
• wondrous
• remarkable
• spectacular
• fabulous
• astounding
• portentous
• prodigious
• unbelievable
• unusual
• interesting
• incomprehensible
• inconceivable
• unimaginable
• unthinkable
• fascinating
• outstanding
• exciting
• eye-opening
• uncommon
• unique
• rare
• noticeable
• phenomenal
• striking
• enchanting
• attractive
• charming
• notable
• conspicuous
• unwonted
• sensational
• attracting
• entertaining
• alluring
• enlightening
• singular
• mind-boggling
• mind-blowing
• smashing
• beguiling
• enthralling
• mind-bending
• bewitching
• invigorating
• enlivening
• animating
• energizing
• stimulating
• captivating
• galvanizing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unremarkable
• unimpressive
• tedious
• boring
• uninspiring
• dull
• uninteresting
• monotonous
• normal
• typical
• uninspired
• usual
• ordinary
• weary
• tiring
• common
• wearisome
• mundane
• wearying
• unexceptional
• customary
• exhausting
• draining
• fatiguing
• debilitating
• discouraging
• wearing
• jading
• dispiriting
• disheartening
• demoralizing
• enervating
• enfeebling

3

as in horrific

extremely disturbing or repellent

spare me the awful details of the murder

Synonyms & Similar Words

• horrific
• gruesome
• horrible
• terrible
• shocking
• nightmare
• terrific
• dreadful
• horrifying
• frightening
• hideous
• terrifying
• appalling
• horrid
• scary
• atrocious
• horrendous
• nightmarish
• ghastly
• sickening
• grisly
• frightful
• disgusting
• monstrous
• macabre
• lurid
• ugly
• fearful
• alarming
• grewsome
• dire
• obscene
• loathsome
• formidable
• revolting
• repulsive
• offensive
• deplorable
• grotesque
• abominable
• disagreeable
• abhorrent
• obnoxious
• heinous
• direful
• repugnant
• odious
• unspeakable
• intimidating
• evil
• forbidding
• fearsome
• vile
• distasteful
• gut-wrenching
• redoubtable
• nauseating
• noxious
• bloodcurdling
• noisome
• unsightly
• hair-raising
• heart-stopping
• foul

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pleasant
• attractive
• delightful
• delicious
• enjoyable
• appealing
• agreeable
• welcome
• satisfying
• pleasurable
• pleasing
• enticing
• delectable
• inviting
• comforting
• soothing
• cheering

4

as in terrible

extremely unsatisfactory

I can't believe I spent good money to see that movie—it was awful

Synonyms & Similar Words

• horrible
• terrible
• poor
• bad
• rotten
• wretched
• atrocious
• dismal
• defective
• lousy
• sucky
• inadequate
• execrable
• insufficient
• flawed
• lacking
• miserable
• shameful
• substandard
• punk
• deficient
• worthless
• inferior
• useless
• wanting
• contemptible
• mediocre
• off
• faulty
• reprehensible
• abominable
• odious
• low-grade
• vile
• damnable
• valueless
• bum
• fiendish
• second-rate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• great
• wonderful
• marvellous
• marvelous
• excellent
• exceptional
• superior
• prime
• adequate
• choice
• first-class
• sufficient
• bitchin'
• premium
• acceptable
• satisfactory
• first-rate

awful

2 of 2

adverb

as in terribly

to a great degree

that's awful sweet of you

Synonyms & Similar Words

• terribly
• extremely
• incredibly
• very
• damned
• damn
• badly
• too
• so
• highly
• really
• severely
• desperately
• seriously
• jolly
• that
• super
• greatly
• intensely
• far
• most
• awfully
• especially
• such
• real
• exceptionally
• much
• wildly
• heavily
• fantastically
• full
• particularly
• wicked
• mighty
• good and
• absolutely
• frightfully
• immensely
• deadly
• fabulously
• exceedingly
• monstrous
• sore
• supremely
• fiercely
• utterly
• totally
• specially
• hugely
• uncommonly
• exceeding
• remarkably
• dang
• passing
• filthy
• extra
• surpassingly
• way
• vitally
• beastly
• roaring
• eminently
• enormously
• rattling
• vastly
• completely
• mortally
• cracking
• thoroughly
• positively
• achingly
• sorely
• stinking
• almighty
• whacking
• bone
• a lot
• thumping
• deeply
• entirely
• majorly
• spanking
• colossally
• ever
• archly
• mightily
• roaringly
• blisteringly
• wholly
• downright
• significantly
• profoundly
• right
• unco
• corking
• noticeably
• as all get-out
• obviously
• considerably
• flat-out
• radically
• fully
• purely
• visibly
• notably
• substantially
• extensively
• markedly
• amazingly
• altogether
• palpably
• monumentally
• excessively
• obscenely
• astonishingly
• appreciably
• plainly
• discernibly
• monstrously
• staggeringly
• astronomically
• plentifully
• abundantly
• grandly
• overmuch

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• somewhat
• little
• slightly
• nominally
• just
• negligibly
• hardly
• barely
• scarcely
• marginally
• minimally
• meagerly
• scantily

Examples of awful in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The downsides are that DEET smells awful, is oily, and can damage anything with plastic in it, like synthetic clothing and camping gear. —Kristin Canning, WIRED, 14 Oct. 2024

But the Broncos’ offensive game plan and executive have been awful. —Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 13 Oct. 2024

Adverb