dreadful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dreadful" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is extremely bad or unpleasant. Example: "The weather was dreadful, making it impossible to enjoy our outdoor plans."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Opinion

Travel

Business

Film

Arts

TV & Radio

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"People must be held to account for their actions under the rule of law and in the case of Mr Downey clearly a dreadful mistake was made by him receiving that letter".

The Guardian

Kilmarnock were denied the celebration of their first ever League Cup by a dreadful turn of events.

The Guardian - Sport

Nothing less than a win against the Czech Republic will do for them, else they'll be exiting their own tournament at the first hurdle and while we make every attempt to maintain neutrality in these parts, it would be a dreadful shame if a side that has played some cracking football in their first two games leaves us now.

The Guardian - Sport

The Toon might even register only their third win of the calendar year against West Ham, who have been abject themselves since suffering a dreadful thrashing in the FA Cup at West Brom in February.

The Guardian - Sport

I've written for a few years now about the dreadful state of things in the developing world, where girls leave school because they don't have a toilet or sanitary protection, and use sand or rags, or sell sex to buy pads.

The Guardian - Opinion

But Mr Justice Butterfield said: "Had it not been for the dreadful events of September 11 2001, I have little doubt that one or more of those proposals would have become a dreadful reality".

The Guardian

I was coldly aware of the dreadful mass of the thing.

The Guardian - Travel

There's a lot of other work throughout the country that we are monitoring very carefully and we'll do all we can not to repeat the dreadful disruption that we've caused today".

The Guardian - Business

We were all believers in free-market economics; we all thought the trade unions were a dreadful, over-powerful vested interest.

The Guardian

But I haven't noticed improvements on the railways - occasionally I have such a dreadful experience on the trains that I wonder whether there is any alternative.

The Guardian

I am tired of the punitive practice, the fear, the paperwork, the audits, the inspections and the nights on the sofa sobbing after another dreadful shift.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dreadful" to express strong disapproval or dislike, but consider your audience and the context. In some situations, a less intense word might be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "dreadful" in highly formal or professional writing, as it can sound too emotional or subjective. Opt for more neutral alternatives like "unfavorable" or "poor" to maintain objectivity.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "dreadful" primarily functions to modify nouns, expressing a negative quality or characteristic. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in describing events, conditions, or experiences as extremely unpleasant or undesirable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Sport

20%

Opinion

15%

Less common in

Business

10%

Film

10%

Travel

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "dreadful" is a versatile adjective used to express strong negativity or unpleasantness. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically sound and widely used, particularly in news and media contexts. While highly common, consider the formality of your writing context and choose alternative expressions if needed to maintain the appropriate tone. Remember that, while options like "awful" or "terrible" serve as good synonyms, the selection should match the intended level of intensity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

awful

A common synonym, indicating something is very bad or unpleasant.

terrible

Another frequent substitute, conveying a sense of extreme unpleasantness or badness.

horrific

Emphasizes the capacity to cause horror or shock.

appalling

Indicates something that is shockingly bad or inferior.

atrocious

Describes something extremely wicked or brutal.

lousy

Informal term for something of very poor quality.

abysmal

Used for describing something extremely bad or of a very low standard.

deplorable

Characterizes something as shockingly bad and deserving of condemnation.

frightful

Implies that something is extremely unpleasant or shocking.

dire

Suggests a situation is extremely serious or urgent.

FAQs

How can I use "dreadful" in a sentence?

You can use "dreadful" to describe something extremely bad or unpleasant. For example, "The weather was "dreadful", making it impossible to enjoy our picnic."

What are some alternatives to saying "dreadful"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "awful", "terrible", or "horrific" to express a similar sentiment.

Is it appropriate to use "dreadful" in formal writing?

While "dreadful" is generally acceptable, it might be too informal for certain formal contexts. Consider using more neutral terms like "unfavorable" or "poor" in academic or professional documents.

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

"Dreadful" and "terrible" are often used interchangeably, but "dreadful" can sometimes imply a stronger sense of fear or apprehension in addition to being unpleasant.