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   Aw·ful

   /ˈôf(ə)l/

   

   adjective

   • 1. very bad or unpleasant: "the place smelled awful" Similar very unpleasantdisgustingnastyterribledreadfulghastlyhorridhorriblevilefoulabominableappallingatrocioushorrendoushideousoffensiveobjectionableobnoxiousfrightfulloathsomerevoltingrepulsiverepellentrepugnantodioussickeningnauseatingnauseousinformal:gruesomediabolicalyuckysick-makinggodawfulgrossfrom hellickygrottybeastlyhellaciouslousyliterary:noisomearchaic:disgustfulloathlyvery badpoordreadfulterriblefrightfulatrocioushopelessinadequateinferiorunsatisfactorysubstandardlaughablelamentableexecrableinformal:crummypatheticrottenuselesswoefullousyappallingabysmaldiregodawfulduffchronicrubbisha load of pantspoxyvulgar slang:crapshitchickenshitrare:egregiousOpposite lovelywonderfulgoodexcellent
   • ▪ extremely shocking; horrific: "awful, bloody images" Similar seriousgravebadterribledreadfulalarmingcriticalOpposite slightminor
   • ▪ (of a person) very unwell, troubled, or unhappy: "I felt awful for being so angry with him" Similar illunwellwashed outpeakysickqueasynauseousnauseatedgreen around the gillsfaintdizzygiddyoffoff colourpoorlyinformal:roughlousyrottenterribledreadfulcrummygrottyropywabbitpeely-wallycrookvulgar slang:crappydated:queerseedyrare:peakedpeakishremorsefulconscience-strickenguiltyguilt-riddenashamedchastenedcontritesorryfull of regretregretfulrepentantpenitentshamefacedself-reproachfulapologetic
   • 2. used to emphasize the extent of something, especially something unpleasant or negative: "I've made an awful fool of myself"
   • 3. inspiring reverential wonder or fear. archaic Similar awe-inspiringawesomeimpressiveamazingdreadfearful

   adverb

   • 1. awfully; very: informal North American "we're an awful long way from the main road"

   Word Origin Old English(see awe, -ful).

   Scrabble Points: 11

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2. People also ask

   What is the meaning of the word 'awful'?

   • Awful. In Old English, ‘awe’ referred to “fear, terror or dread”. This later morphed into a solemn or reverential wonder, and ‘awful’ and ‘awesome’ were synonymous with awe-inspiring. Later, ‘awful’ took on a solely negative connotation, and the word found its modern-day usage to mean extremely bad.

   Why did the word awful change meaning? | Writing 101

   www.kembrel.com/writing-101/why-did-the-word-awful-change-meaning/

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   What does the suffix 'awful' mean?

   • The “some” suffix of “awesome” means “causing or characterized by,” and the “ful” of “awful” originally meant “full of” or “characterized by, inspiring.” The transformation of “awful” from meaning “inspiring awe” to “really bad” came in the 18th century, probably from repeated use of “awful” to mean “so bad as to inspire awe.”

   Awful / Awkward / Awesome « The Word Detective

   www.word-detective.com/2009/10/awful-awkward-awesome/

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   What is the difference between awful and awfully?

   • USAGE Although some object to any use of awful or awfully in any sense not connected with a feeling of awe, both have been used in other senses for several centuries. awful and awfully as adverbial intensifiers— awful (ly) hot; awful (ly) cold —appear in the early 19th century, following much the same pattern as horribly and dreadfully.

   AWFUL definition in American English | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/awful

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   What does it mean to be Aweful?

   • In secular contexts, “awe” came to mean, as the Oxford English Dictionary puts it, “the feeling of solemn and reverential wonder, tinged with latent fear, inspired by what is terribly sublime and majestic in nature, e.g., thunder, a storm at sea.” Both “awful” and “awesome” are based on this “awe.”

   Awful / Awkward / Awesome « The Word Detective

   www.word-detective.com/2009/10/awful-awkward-awesome/

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3. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › us › definitionawful adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and ...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › us › definition

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   awful (rather informal) very bad or unpleasant; used to describe something that you do not like or that makes you feel depressed, ill, guilty or disapproving: That’s an awful colour. The weather last summer was awful.

4. www.collinsdictionary.com › english › awfulAWFUL definition in American English | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › english › awful

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   2 days ago · awful and awfully as adverbial intensifiers— awful(ly) hot; awful(ly) cold —appear in the early 19th century, following much the same pattern as horribly and dreadfully. As an adverb, awful is less formal in tone than awfully. In the sense “inspiring awe or fear” awesome has largely replaced awful.

5. en.thefreedictionary.com › awfulAwful - definition of awful by The Free Dictionary

   en.thefreedictionary.com › awful

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   Define awful. awful synonyms, awful pronunciation, awful translation, English dictionary definition of awful. adj. 1. Extremely bad or unpleasant; terrible: had an awful day at the office.

6. www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › awfulawful | meaning of awful in Longman Dictionary of ...

   www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › awful

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   awful meaning, definition, what is awful: very bad or unpleasant: Learn more.

7. www.oed.com › dictionary › awful_adjawful, adj. & adv. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford ...

   www.oed.com › dictionary › awful_adj

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   Arousing or inspiring awe. Later also in weaker or more general use: very bad or unpleasant, and related senses. I.1.a. That inspires or instils fear, terror, or dread; terrible, dreadful; (from the 18th century often) extremely shocking or distressing; horrific. Þatt he be grimme. & aȝhefull. & braþ & tor to cwemenn.

8. www.betterwordsonline.com › dictionary › awfulAwful - Definition, Meaning, Synonyms, Etymology

   www.betterwordsonline.com › dictionary › awful

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   He felt awful after realizing he had accidentally broken his friend's favorite mug. History and etymology of awful The adjective 'awful' has an etymology rooted in Old English, where it existed as 'egefull' or 'egful,' combining 'ege,' meaning 'fear' or 'terror,' with the suffix '-ful,' indicating full of or characterized by.

9. www.wordsmyth.netawful | Dictionaries and vocabulary tools for English ...

   www.wordsmyth.net

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   The meaning of awful. Definition of awful. English dictionary and integrated thesaurus for learners, writers, teachers, and students with advanced, intermediate, and beginner levels.