Dreadful: Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes

Meaning 1：extremely bad (dreadful)

dreadful 🔊

/ˈdredfl/

adj.

Used to describe something that is very bad, unpleasant, or of very low quality.

Dreadful meaning illustrated by a disappointed student looking at a failed test paper

extremely bad 🔊

➕

/ɪkˈstriːmli bæd/

adj.

Describes something of very poor quality, causing strong dislike or distress.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From 'dread' (fear) + '-ful' (full of), meaning 'full of dread or fear'.

💡 Mnemonic

The DREAD in dreadful makes me DREAD how bad it is.

📖 Example

She had a dreadful feeling when she realized she had left her project report at home on the day of the presentation. 🔊 She felt extremely bad when she found out her project report was left at home on presentation day.

🔗 Collocations

dreadful mistake – a very serious error

dreadful weather – extremely unpleasant atmospheric conditions

dreadful pain – intense and severe discomfort

🔄 Synonyms

terrible (adj.) – extremely bad or serious

awful (adj.) – very bad or unpleasant

atrocious (adj.) – of a very poor quality; shockingly bad

🚫 Antonyms

excellent (adj.) – extremely good; of the highest quality

wonderful (adj.) – inspiring delight, pleasure, or admiration

🌱 Derivatives

dreadfully (adv.) – in an extremely bad or unpleasant way

dreadfulness (n.) – the state or quality of being extremely bad

📖 Cultural Story

Originates from Old English 'dread' (fear) + '-ful'. Initially meant 'inspiring great fear'. Now commonly used for hyperbolic complaints about bad experiences, e.g., 'What dreadful weather!'