a dreadful sight

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a dreadful sight" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is shocking, unpleasant, or horrifying to look at. Example: "The aftermath of the storm left the town in ruins, and it was truly a dreadful sight."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

4.31am GMT A dreadful sight.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Type in "Robert Frost": Two roads diverge at the yellow light, Alas you cannot travel both If you pause and look down the one that goes right You'll see a really dreadful sight The seething sprawl of suburban growth.

The New Yorker

It adds up to a dreadful mess.

The Economist

What a dreadful view.

Huffington Post

For a historian of New York, the dreadful sight of trapped World Trade Center workers leaping to their deaths on Sept. 11 summoned up the horrible image of trapped seamstresses, hair and clothing ablaze, plunging from the Triangle shirtwaist factory on March 25 , 1911

The New York Times - Books

If the father is eventually captured and survives to reminisce about his past life, as sometimes happens even to dictators, he may explain why he exposed his sons to this dreadful sight.

The Economist

Winston Churchill, a model of doughty courage and total refusal to surrender, went among the common people in World War II, openly weeping when he saw dreadful sights during the Blitz, and observers tell us he was unashamed by his tears.

Huffington Post

A dreadful controversy indeed!

The New Yorker

A dreadful end.

Independent

It is a dreadful, dreadful meal.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It was a dreadful, dreadful blow.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a dreadful sight" when you want to emphasize the shocking and unpleasant nature of something you witnessed. It is particularly effective when describing scenes of destruction, accidents, or any situation causing significant distress.

Common error

Avoid using "a dreadful sight" to describe minor inconveniences or disappointments. This phrase carries a strong negative connotation and is best reserved for truly shocking or disturbing situations. Using it inappropriately can diminish its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a dreadful sight" functions as a noun phrase that acts as the subject complement or object in a sentence. It typically describes something visually disturbing or unpleasant. As exemplified by Ludwig, the phrase characterizes scenes that evoke strong negative emotions.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a dreadful sight" is a phrase used to describe something visually disturbing or extremely unpleasant. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable, though its frequency is relatively rare, primarily appearing in news and media contexts. While semantically similar phrases like "a horrifying view" or "a ghastly scene" can be used as alternatives, "a dreadful sight" carries a specific emphasis on the shocking nature of the visual experience. Therefore, reserve this phrase for situations genuinely deserving of such a strong negative descriptor.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an appalling spectacle

Replaces 'dreadful' with 'appalling' and 'sight' with 'spectacle', intensifying the negative connotation and focusing on the visual aspect.

a horrifying view

Substitutes 'dreadful' with 'horrifying' and 'sight' with 'view', emphasizing the terrifying nature of what is seen.

a ghastly scene

Replaces 'dreadful' with 'ghastly' and 'sight' with 'scene', highlighting the unpleasant and shocking nature of the situation.

a terrible vision

Changes 'dreadful' to 'terrible' and 'sight' to 'vision', suggesting a disturbing mental image.

a gruesome image

Replaces 'dreadful' with 'gruesome' and 'sight' with 'image', focusing on the repulsiveness of the visual.

an awful scene

Substitutes 'dreadful' with 'awful' and 'sight' with 'scene', conveying a sense of unpleasantness and shock.

a shocking spectacle

Replaces 'dreadful' with 'shocking' and 'sight' with 'spectacle', highlighting the surprising and disturbing nature.

a disturbing view

Changes 'dreadful' to 'disturbing' and 'sight' to 'view', emphasizing the unsettling nature of what is observed.

a revolting sight

Replaces 'dreadful' with 'revolting', conveying a strong sense of disgust.

a sickening spectacle

Substitutes 'dreadful' with 'sickening' and 'sight' with 'spectacle', highlighting the nauseating nature of what is seen.

FAQs

How can I use "a dreadful sight" in a sentence?

Use "a dreadful sight" to describe something extremely unpleasant or shocking to see. For example, "The aftermath of the accident was a dreadful sight."

What are some alternatives to "a dreadful sight"?

You can use alternatives such as "a horrifying view", "an appalling spectacle", or "a ghastly scene" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "a dreadful sight"?

It's appropriate to use "a dreadful sight" when describing something genuinely shocking, disturbing, or unpleasant to witness. Reserve it for scenarios that evoke strong negative emotions.

Is "a dreadful sight" interchangeable with "a terrible sight"?

While both phrases convey negativity, "a dreadful sight" often suggests a stronger sense of horror or shock compared to "a terrible sight", which may imply general unpleasantness.