Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Extremely bad, unpleasant, or of low quality: Used to describe something that is very disagreeable, of poor standard, or causing distress.
   • Inspiring a feeling of fear, dread, or reverence: Used to describe something that is formidable, majestic, or capable of eliciting awe (often in older or literary contexts).
   • Used for emphasis: Used informally to mean "very great" or "extreme" in degree.

2. Adverb (informal):

   • Very; extremely: Used as an intensifier, especially in informal speech.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The weather was awful yesterday, with constant rain and strong winds.
  • She had an awful headache that lasted all day.
  • The movie received awful reviews from the critics.
  • In the silence of the cathedral, he felt an awful majesty. (literary)

• Adverb (informal):

  • I'm awful sorry for being late.
  • It's awful kind of you to help.

Advanced Usage

• "an awful lot of": a very large amount or number of something.

  • She has an awful lot of books in her collection.

• "awful truth": a very unpleasant or disturbing fact that must be accepted.

  • He finally had to face the awful truth about the situation.

Variants and Related Words

• Awfully (adverb): Very; extremely. Often used as an intensifier in informal contexts.

  • It's awfully cold in here.

• Awfulness (noun): The state or quality of being extremely bad or unpleasant.

  • The awfulness of the crime shocked the community.

Synonyms

• Adjective (bad/unpleasant): Terrible, dreadful, horrible, atrocious, appalling.
• Adjective (inspiring awe): Awe-inspiring, majestic, formidable, reverential.
• Adverb (very): Terribly, very, extremely, incredibly.

Antonyms

• Adjective (bad/unpleasant): Wonderful, excellent, pleasant, agreeable.
• Adjective (inspiring awe): Unimpressive, ordinary, mundane.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Look/feel awful: To appear or feel very ill or upset.

  • You look awful; you should go home and rest.

• An awful shame: A great pity or cause for regret.

  • It's an awful shame they had to cancel the concert.

Adjective

1. inspiring awe or admiration or wonder
   • New York is an amazing city
   • the Grand Canyon is an awe-inspiring sight
   • the awesome complexity of the universe
   • this sea, whose gently awful stirrings seem to speak of some hidden soul beneath- Melville
   • Westminster Hall's awing majesty, so vast, so high, so silent
2. extreme in degree or extent or amount or impact
   • in a frightful hurry
   • spent a frightful amount of money
3. inspired by a feeling of fearful wonderment or reverence
   • awed by the silence
   • awful worshippers with bowed heads
4. offensive or even (of persons) malicious
   • in a nasty mood
   • a nasty accident
   • a nasty shock
   • a nasty smell
   • a nasty trick to pull
   • Will he say nasty things at my funeral?- Ezra Pound
5. causing fear or dread or terror
   • the awful war
   • an awful risk
   • dire news
   • a career or vengeance so direful that London was shocked
   • the dread presence of the headmaster
   • polio is no longer the dreaded disease it once was
   • a dreadful storm
   • a fearful howling
   • horrendous explosions shook the city
   • a terrible curse
6. exceptionally bad or displeasing
   • atrocious taste
   • abominable workmanship
   • an awful voice
   • dreadful manners
   • a painful performance
   • terrible handwriting
   • an unspeakable odor came sweeping into the room

Adverb

1. used as intensifiers
   • terribly interesting
   • I'm awful sorry