Dreadfully — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective adverb /ˈdred-fəl/ dread·ful

Meaning & Definition of Dreadfully

Dreadfully (adjective)

  1. inspiring dread, causing great and oppressive fear
  2. inspiring awe or reverence
  3. extremely bad, distasteful, unpleasant, or shocking

Dreadfully (adverb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in terribly, horribly

    similar: abysmally, atrociously, awfully, damnably, deplorably, detestably, disastrously, execrably, horrendously, horribly, horrifically, rottenly, terribly, bad, badly, deficiently, inadequately, lousily, poorly, unacceptably, unsatisfactorily, wretchedly, intolerably, unbearably, inappropriately, incorrectly, indecently, reprehensibly, unsuitably, vulgarly, naughtily, egregiously, flagrantly, grossly, miserably, shoddily, sleazily, trashily, unspeakably, abominably, odiously, vilely, inferiorly, insufficiently, meagerly, meanly, scantily, scantly, shabbily, skimpily, sparely, stingily
    opposite: acceptably, adequately, all right, fine, good, nicely, OK, palatably, passably, satisfactorily, so-so, tolerably, well, appropriately, congruously, correctly, decently, decorously, felicitously, fittingly, meetly, rightly, seemly, suitably, exactly, faithfully, ideally, precisely, respectably, gratifyingly, satisfyingly

Related Entry: Dreadful (adjective)

Dreadful is a different word from Dreadfully. The synonyms below are for dreadful, not for dreadfully.

  1. causing fear

    "a dreadful hurricane"

    similar: alarming, dire, direful, dread, fearful, fearsome, forbidding, formidable, frightening, frightful, ghastly, hair-raising, horrendous, horrible, horrifying, intimidating, redoubtable, scary, shocking, spine-chilling, terrible, terrifying
    related: daunting, demoralizing, disconcerting, discouraging, dismaying, disquieting, distressing, disturbing, perturbing, startling, threatening, troubling, trying, unnerving, bone-chilling, creepy, eerie, weird, appalling, atrocious, awful, grisly, gruesome, hideous, horrid, macabre, monstrous, nightmarish
    near: calming, comforting, consoling, inviting, lulling, pacifying, quieting, reassuring, relaxing, soothing, tranquilizing, nonintimidating, nonthreatening

  2. causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment

    "a dreadful performance of a beautiful piece of music"

    similar: abhorrent, abominable, appalling, awful, disgusting, distasteful, evil, foul, fulsome, gross, hideous, horrendous, horrible, horrid, loathsome, nasty, nauseating, nauseous, noisome, noxious, obnoxious, obscene, odious, offensive, rancid, repellent, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, scandalous, shocking, sickening, ugly
    related: exceptionable, objectionable, brackish, disagreeable, dislikable, unpleasant, contemptible, despicable, detestable, hard, hateful, unhealthy, unsavory, unwholesome, execrable, lousy, miserable, atrocious, frightful, ghastly, grim, grisly, gruesome, heinous, horrific, horrifying, lurid, macabre, monstrous, nightmarish, sick, sickish, sickly, terrible, unspeakable, vile, off-putting, undesirable, unwanted, unwelcome, barbarous, unchristian, uncivilized, ungodly, unholy, distressing, disturbing, upsetting
    opposite: innocuous, inoffensive
    near: acceptable, agreeable, alluring, appealing, attractive, blessed, congenial, darling, delectable, delicious, delightful, delightsome, desirable, dreamy, dulcet, enjoyable, felicitous, gratifying, heavenly, inviting, likable, luscious, nice, palatable, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, satisfying, savory, sweet, welcome, unexceptionable, unobjectionable, healthful, healthy, restorative, salubrious, salutary, wholesome

  3. extremely disturbing or repellent

    "dreadful news of a crime wave in the neighborhood"

    similar: appalling, atrocious, awful, frightful, ghastly, grisly, gruesome, hideous, horrendous, horrible, horrid, horrific, horrifying, lurid, macabre, monstrous, nightmare, nightmarish, shocking, terrible, terrific
    related: alarming, bloodcurdling, dire, direful, fearful, fearsome, forbidding, formidable, frightening, gut-wrenching, hair-raising, heart-stopping, intimidating, redoubtable, scary, terrifying, abhorrent, deplorable, disagreeable, disgusting, distasteful, loathsome, nauseating, noisome, obnoxious, obscene, offensive, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, sickening, abominable, evil, foul, heinous, noxious, odious, unspeakable, vile, grotesque, ugly, unsightly
    near: agreeable, appealing, attractive, delectable, delicious, delightful, enjoyable, enticing, inviting, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, satisfying, welcome, cheering, comforting, soothing

  4. extreme in degree, power, or effect

    "the dreadful heat of the desert"

    similar: acute, almighty, blistering, deep, excruciating, explosive, exquisite, fearful, fearsome, ferocious, fierce, frightful, furious, ghastly, hard, heavy, heavy-duty, hellacious, intense, intensive, keen, profound, terrible, vehement, vicious, violent
    related: accentuated, aggravated, concentrated, deepened, emphasized, enhanced, heightened, intensified, magnified, stressed, exhaustive, thorough, harsh, rigorous, severe
    opposite: light, moderate, soft
    near: feeble, weak, shallow, superficial, moderated, qualified, alleviated, eased, lightened, toned (down), abated, decreased, diminished, lessened, reduced, subdued

  5. having no exceptions or restrictions

    "made a dreadful mess of his first marriage"

    similar: absolute, all-out, arrant, blank, blooming (chiefly British), bodacious (Southern & Midland), categorical, clean, complete, consummate, crashing, damn, damned, dead, deadly, definite, downright, fair, flat, flat-out, out-and-out, outright, perfect, plumb, profound, pure, rank, regular, sheer, simple, stark, stone, straight-out, thorough, thoroughgoing, total, unadulterated, unalloyed, unconditional, unmitigated, unqualified, utter, very
    related: authentic, classic, genuine, real, veritable, constant, endless, eternal, perpetual, undying, unremitting, extreme, unrestricted, confirmed, habitual, hopeless, inveterate, extraordinary, frightful, horrible, huge, main, superlative, supreme, surpassing, terrible, terrific
    near: doubtful, dubious, equivocal, qualified, questionable, restricted, uncertain

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Dreadfully

The most common words with a similar meaning to Dreadfully:

abysmally, atrociously, awfully, damnably, deplorably, detestably, disastrously, execrably, horrendously, horribly, horrifically, rottenly, terribly, bad, badly, deficiently, inadequately, lousily, poorly, unacceptably, unsatisfactorily, wretchedly, intolerably, unbearably, inappropriately, incorrectly, indecently, reprehensibly, unsuitably, vulgarly, naughtily, egregiously, flagrantly, grossly, miserably, shoddily, sleazily, trashily, unspeakably, abominably

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Dreadfully

Words with the opposite meaning of Dreadfully:

acceptably, adequately, all right, fine, good, nicely, OK, palatably, passably, satisfactorily, so-so, tolerably, well, appropriately, congruously, correctly, decently, decorously, felicitously, fittingly, meetly, rightly, seemly, suitably, exactly, faithfully, ideally, precisely, respectably, gratifyingly

Word Forms of Dreadfully

Derived words: dreadfully (adverb), dreadfulness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Dreadfully

First known use: 13th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Dreadfully

What does "Dreadfully" mean?

"Dreadfully" means inspiring dread, causing great and oppressive fear. As an an adjective and an adverb, it is defined as: inspiring dread, causing great and oppressive fear.

What is another word for "Dreadfully"?

Other words for "Dreadfully" include abysmally, atrociously, awfully, damnably, deplorably, detestably, disastrously and execrably. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Dreadfully" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Dreadfully"?

There are 52 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Dreadfully". Common alternatives include abysmally, atrociously, awfully, damnably, deplorably, detestably, disastrously, execrably, horrendously and horribly.

What is the opposite of "Dreadfully"?

Antonyms of "Dreadfully" include acceptably, adequately, all right, fine, good, nicely, OK and palatably.

Is "Dreadfully" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Dreadfully" can be used as an adjective and an adverb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Dreadfully"?

"Dreadfully" is pronounced /ˈdred-fəl/ and divided into syllables as dread·ful.

What is the origin of the word "Dreadfully"?

First known use: 13th century.

What is another word for "Dreadfully" meaning "as in terribly, horribly"?

When "Dreadfully" (adverb) means as in terribly, horribly, synonyms include abysmally, atrociously, awfully, damnably, deplorably and detestably. Opposites in this sense include acceptably, adequately, all right and fine.