as dreadful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as dreadful" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare something to another thing that is also considered dreadful or terrible. Example: "The weather today is as dreadful as it was last week, making it hard to enjoy outdoor activities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

It is quite as dreadful as it sounds.

The Guardian

"He can't be as dreadful as they say," they said, according to Dr. Maxwell.

The New York Times

"The idea of death, now, to me, is just as dreadful as it was before.

The Guardian - Music

When you do think about it, it can be as dreadful as ever.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's funky, it's camp, but not quite as dreadful as that sounds.

The Guardian - Music

Edwards must hope so because Carolina is probably not as dreadful as its record.

The New York Times - Sports

At 8.6 net YPA allowed, New England's pass defense is almost as dreadful as their pass offense numbers are amazing.

The New York Times

Pitt just seems happy that the blockbuster is not as dreadful as it was when he saw the first cut.

The New York Times

But as dreadful as the Wallabies were, it is to take nothing away from a quality Lions performance.

The Guardian - Sport

"I accept that if the polls are still as dreadful then, we will clearly have a problem".

The New York Times

Jason Cole of Yahoo.com chimes in to say that Detroit is not nearly as dreadful as it has been, despite the dismal record.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as dreadful" to emphasize the intensity of a negative experience by comparing it to something else equally terrible. For example, "The traffic was "as dreadful" as I had feared, making me late for the meeting."

Common error

Avoid using "as dreadful" too frequently in your writing, as it can make your tone sound overly dramatic or repetitive. Instead, vary your language by using synonyms such as "equally awful" or "just as terrible" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as dreadful" functions as an adjectival phrase used for comparison. It modifies a noun or pronoun by describing it and indicating its similarity in dreadfulness to something else. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through various examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as dreadful" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adjectival phrase for making comparisons between equally terrible things. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's primarily used in news and media contexts to express strong negative evaluations. While versatile, it's essential to avoid overuse and consider synonyms like "equally awful" or "just as terrible" for variety. The phrase's effectiveness lies in its ability to emphasize the intensity of a negative quality by drawing a direct parallel, enhancing the reader's understanding of the situation's severity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

equally awful

Focuses on the comparable degree of unpleasantness or badness.

just as terrible

Emphasizes the identical level of terribleness or severity.

similarly appalling

Highlights a parallel level of shock or disgust.

no less horrifying

Underscores that something is not less scary or frightening.

as unpleasant

General term about equivalent lack of pleasantness or enjoyment.

comparably miserable

Focuses on the shared level of unhappiness or suffering.

just as atrocious

Highlights the equivalent level of shocking or wicked qualities.

equally distressing

Highlights the comparable level of causing anxiety, sorrow, or pain.

similarly unbearable

Focuses on the same level of being not able to be endured.

no less regrettable

Underscores that something is not less causing of sorrow or disappointment.

FAQs

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

You can use "as dreadful" to compare two equally terrible things, like in the sentence, "The food was "as dreadful" as the service."

What can I say instead of "as dreadful"?

You can use alternatives like "equally awful", "just as terrible", or "similarly appalling" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "so dreadful as"?

While grammatically possible, "so dreadful as" is less common and may sound more formal or archaic than the more typical construction "as dreadful as".

What's the difference between "as dreadful as" and "dreadful"?

"Dreadful" describes something terrible on its own. "As dreadful as" compares something to another thing that's also considered dreadful, emphasizing the equivalence in their negativity.