direful

/'daiəful/

Thân thiện

The direful storm darkened the sky and churned the sea.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Causing or involving great fear, dread, or terror; dreadful, terrible. The word describes something so severe, extreme, or shocking that it inspires profound fear or horror.

Usage

The adjective "direful" is a formal and literary word. It is used to describe events, situations, or appearances that are extremely ominous, dreadful, or terrible. It emphasizes the quality of inspiring fear or awe due to its severity.

Examples

• The historian wrote about the direful consequences of the prolonged famine.
• In the play, the ghost delivered a direful prophecy of doom.
• They escaped from the direful scene of the disaster.

Advanced Usage

• "direful spectacle": a sight that is horrifying or dreadful to behold.
  • The battlefield after the clash was a direful spectacle.
• "direful news": news that is terrible and frightening.
  • The messenger brought direful news of the army's defeat.

Variants and Related Words

• Dire (adj): (More common) Desperate, urgent, or dreadful.
  • The country is in dire need of aid.
• Direfully (adv): In a direful manner.
  • He spoke direfully of the challenges ahead.

Synonyms

• Dreadful: Causing great fear or suffering.
• Terrible: Extremely bad or serious.
• Awful: Very bad or unpleasant; inspiring awe or fear.
• Horrendous: Extremely unpleasant, horrifying.
• Fearful: Causing fear.

Antonyms

• Wonderful: Inspiring delight or admiration.
• Pleasant: Giving a sense of happy satisfaction or enjoyment.
• Reassuring: Serving to relieve anxiety.

Notes

"Direful" is considered an archaic or highly literary synonym for "dreadful" or "terrible." In modern usage, "dire," "dreadful," "terrible," or "awful" are more frequently used. "Direful" often carries a connotation of being not just bad, but ominously and frighteningly so, sometimes with a hint of the prophetic.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. 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