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Added 9 October 2026

awful

/ˈɔːfʊl/ adjective

Categories: Describing WordsUncommon Words

In Latin: dīrus Wiktionary

adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about awful at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. Exceptionally bad or displeasing.
    atrocious taste
  2. Causing fear or dread or terror.
    the awful war
  3. Offensive or even (of persons) malicious.
    in a nasty mood

adverb

  1. Used as intensifiers.
    terribly interesting

Origin

From Middle English agheful, awfull, auful, aȝefull, equivalent to awe + -ful. Compare Old English eġeful, eġefull (“terrifying; awful”). The “very bad” sense is a pejorative semantic shift from the original sense of “awe-inspiring”.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Related Words: horrendousatrociousterriblydireabominabledreadfulhorrificterriblehatefuldirefullousydreaded

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