dreadful
word
Definition
Very bad, unpleasant, or of very poor quality. It can describe something terrible, or sometimes be used in a stronger or slightly old-fashioned way for emphasis.
Usage & Nuances
Common with nouns like 'weather', 'smell', 'mistake', and 'condition': 'dreadful weather', 'a dreadful smell'. Stronger and often more formal or literary than 'bad'. In British English, it can sound natural in everyday speech; in American English, 'awful' or 'terrible' are often more common.
Example Sentences
The food was dreadful, so I did not finish it.
basic
We had dreadful weather on our trip.
basic
He made a dreadful mistake at work.
basic
I feel dreadful this morning — I think I'm getting sick.
natural
That movie was absolutely dreadful; let's watch something else.
natural
I'm dreadfully sorry about the delay.
natural