dreadful night

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dreadful night" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a night that was particularly unpleasant or filled with distressing events. Example: "After the dreadful night filled with thunder and lightning, I was relieved to see the sun rise the next morning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

By the morning after a dreadful night before, 88% wanted Hiddink to pack up his things and get out of town.

The Guardian - Sport

Gary Pollard, a documentary filmmaker living a few blocks from the World Trade Center, caught the dreadful night that engulfed the area in midmorning after the second tower fell, an event seen from several angles.

The New York Times

The city of dreadful night.

Princeton University

"It was a dreadful night.

The Guardian - Music

After such a dreadful night, plans were revised.

The New York Times - Sports

In a pool of dreadful night, Aibileen and a young man trade goodbyes and rush off.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

There in the field on a cold, dreadful morning, under a full moon, his grieving began.

The Washington Post

The only move La Russa said he may regret was starting the 21-year-old rookie Rick Ankiel, who was dreadful tonight and left in the first inning.

The New York Times - Sports

So the fact is that I will almost certainly be going racing at Chepstow in 2008 despite doing some early resolving after a pretty dreadful afternoon there on Welsh National day last week.

The Guardian - Sport

A difficult day for the Swansea City centre-half 6 Danny Collins Dreadful afternoon for the left-back, who was constantly caught out of position, as when Johnson's pass down the line sent Young away to create the second goal 4 Andrew Crofts Looked a dogged workhorse, who occasionally got close enough to an England midfielder to whack him.

Independent

"The Cherries deserve this - Norwich have been dreadful this afternoon and Bournemouth will now go above them". This is all Charlie Daniels.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dreadful night" to vividly describe a night filled with negative events, emotions, or experiences. It's particularly effective when conveying a sense of foreboding or intense discomfort. For example: "The storm made it a truly dreadful night."

Common error

Avoid using "dreadful" excessively in the same sentence or paragraph. Overuse can diminish its impact and make your writing sound repetitive. Instead, vary your vocabulary with synonyms like "horrific", "terrible", or "awful".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dreadful night" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "dreadful" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "night". It serves to describe the quality or nature of the night, emphasizing its unpleasant or unfortunate characteristics. According to Ludwig, this usage is correct and common.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Encyclopedias

10%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "dreadful night" is a commonly used and grammatically sound phrase used to describe a particularly unpleasant or unfortunate night. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s usable in various English contexts. Its primary function is to convey negative emotions or highlight difficult circumstances. While versatile, it's advisable to avoid overuse and consider synonyms such as "horrific night" or "terrible night" to maintain writing clarity and impact. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media sources. By understanding its nuances and potential pitfalls, writers can effectively employ "dreadful night" to add depth and emotional resonance to their narratives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

horrific night

Replaces "dreadful" with a synonym emphasizing the horror of the night.

terrible night

Substitutes "dreadful" with a more common synonym for a bad experience.

awful night

Uses a less formal synonym for "dreadful", indicating a very unpleasant experience.

miserable night

Focuses on the unhappiness and discomfort experienced during the night.

unpleasant night

A more general term for a night that was not enjoyable.

disastrous night

Highlights the catastrophic nature of the events that occurred during the night.

calamitous night

Emphasizes the disastrous and unfortunate nature of the night.

ill-fated night

Suggests that the night was destined for misfortune or failure.

unfortunate evening

Replaces "night" with a similar time frame, indicating bad luck or an undesirable experience.

night of horrors

Emphasizes the frightening and terrifying aspects of the night.

FAQs

What does "dreadful night" mean?

A "dreadful night" describes a night that was extremely unpleasant, filled with misfortune, or caused significant distress. It suggests a high degree of negativity and discomfort.

What can I say instead of "dreadful night"?

You can use alternatives like "terrible night", "horrific night", or "awful night" depending on the context.

Is "dreadful night" a formal or informal expression?

"Dreadful night" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it may be more common in narrative or descriptive writing rather than strictly formal reports. Ludwig confirms its usability in various English sources.

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

You can use "dreadful night" to describe a specific night: "After the accident, it was a truly dreadful night for everyone involved." Or, you can use it more generally: "The relentless rain made it a dreadful night to be camping."