dreadful sense

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dreadful sense" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a feeling or perception that is overwhelmingly negative or unpleasant. Example: "After hearing the news, I was left with a dreadful sense of despair that lingered for days."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Books

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

(His genuinely dreadful sense of humour gets off too lightly, though).

The Economist

Not in a dreadful sense, but none of the other birthdays have bothered me.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Devic's revenge When Ukraine lost to England at the Euros, they were left with a dreadful sense of injustice.

Independent

In past tournaments, England's demise has been a slow drawn-out affair, with the handwringing and the tears and the dreadful sense of foreboding.

Independent

This is troubling since what she calls a "dreadful sense of self-recrimination about food" can easily slip into eating disorders.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The novel dovetails these two different agonies and wrests from them a dreadful sense of breakdown, of life being torn apart in front of our eyes.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Ostensibly a shooter, the gun mechanics are dreadful, with no sense of control.

The Guardian - Tech

Hodgkinson, more appealingly, encourages us to take matters into our own hands and simply shed the burden - 'the dreadful, gnawing, stomach-churning sense that things are awry, mixed with a chronic sense of powerlessness... forever hoping, fearing or regretting'.

The Guardian

I am trying always to catch that moment of collapse, that sense of dreadful movement.' Intriguingly, Kiefer tells me that, in the Eighties, he made a big painting of an aeroplane crashing into a skyscraper.

The Guardian - Arts

The year before, the town hired a new superintendent, Ronald Ross, the first black chief administrator in the city's history; he seized on the dreadful statistics and the sense of anger and humiliation they provoked as a lever to force change in the schools.

The New York Times - Magazine

The fear of lack of control and dreadful consequences overwhelm any sense of the abstract economic benefits of nuclear power, and images of workers in protection suits and news of elevated radiation levels in food and water further fuel antinuclear sentiment on a global scale.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dreadful sense" to vividly convey a strong feeling of unease, foreboding, or intense negativity. It's most effective when describing situations involving significant emotional impact or impending negative outcomes.

Common error

Avoid using "dreadful sense" in situations that don't warrant a strong negative emotion. Overusing it can diminish its impact and make your writing sound melodramatic. Consider using more neutral terms like "unease" or "concern" when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dreadful sense" primarily functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object of a sentence to describe a subjective emotional experience. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English, as exemplified by the various contexts in the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Books

12%

Opinion

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Science

4%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "dreadful sense" is a grammatically sound and commonly used noun phrase that effectively conveys a strong negative feeling, such as foreboding or unease. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in written English. Analysis of its usage across various sources, particularly news and media outlets, reveals its neutral register and suitability for describing emotionally impactful situations. While alternatives like "awful feeling" or "unsettling feeling" exist, "dreadful sense" provides a distinct level of intensity. It's important to use this phrase judiciously, avoiding overuse in contexts that don't warrant such strong emotion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

awful feeling

Replaces "dreadful" with "awful", offering a slightly less intense synonym.

terrible sensation

Substitutes "sense" with "sensation", emphasizing the physical or emotional aspect of the feeling.

overwhelming dread

Emphasizes the intensity of the dread, making it the central focus.

acute sense of horror

Replaces "dreadful" with "acute" and "horror", making it more intensive, emphasizing the sharpness and intensity of the horror.

horrific premonition

Replaces "dreadful sense" with a specific type of dreadful feeling related to foreboding.

palpable sense of doom

Uses "palpable" to highlight the feeling's tangibility and impending nature.

profound unease

Substitutes "sense" with "unease" and intensifies it with "profound", highlighting a deep-seated anxiety.

unsettling feeling

Offers a milder alternative, focusing on the discomfort and unease caused by the feeling.

deep foreboding

Focuses specifically on the anticipation of something terrible happening.

oppressive feeling

Describes the feeling as heavy and burdensome, emphasizing its negative impact.

FAQs

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

You can use "dreadful sense" to describe a strong feeling of impending doom or unease, such as: "After receiving the anonymous letter, she had a "dreadful sense" that something bad was about to happen".

What are some alternatives to "dreadful sense"?

Alternatives include "awful feeling", "terrible sensation", or "unsettling feeling", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

While grammatically correct, "dreadful sense" can sound somewhat dramatic. In formal writing, consider using alternatives like "profound unease" or "deep foreboding" for a more restrained tone.

What's the difference between "dreadful sense" and "bad feeling"?

"Dreadful sense" implies a stronger, more intense feeling of foreboding or unease than a simple "bad feeling". "Dreadful sense" suggests a deeper, more visceral negative perception.