it looks dreadful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it looks dreadful" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a negative opinion about the appearance of something, indicating that it is unattractive or unpleasant to look at. Example: "After seeing the final design, I must say it looks dreadful and needs significant improvements."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"Some people say it looks dreadful," says Rees, "and I tend to agree".

The Guardian - Arts

Evgeny Ivanchenko: It looks dreadful when a dancer is on pointes and looks down at her partner.

The Guardian

It looks dreadful because each unused spot emphasises the special treatment afforded to officials and their business partners who then don't turn up.

BBC

She added: "It looks dreadful here and we're just praying that it doesn't get any higher because if it comes into the house we're really done for - everything precious to us is stacked up on the floors".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

I, on the other hand, haven't changed my look since the 1980s, and it usually involves tailoring as I look dreadful in casualwear; I'm always the most overdressed person in the pub.

Independent

My eyesight is constantly fuzzy, my head aches, I am bad-tempered, I look dreadful, my self confidence plummets, I scream at my other children..

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"E said I look dreadful"; "E asked (moving a little from me), 'Are you insane?'" "E said the epitaph on my grave stone will be: 'Here lies Laura, who did nothing, went nowhere, was loved by nobody.'" Laura.

The Guardian - Books

While I am always being told that any lipstick with a hint of blue in it will look dreadful – and it does – an actual true blue suits my paler, older complexion and continues to do so when I have been burnished by sun (especially if I have been in Morocco).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"You know, 'Oh God she's put on so much weight, she looks dreadful.' Well, I just say it".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

She looks dreadful too, which all adds to the fun.

The Guardian

As she explains, "A-n-n looks dreadful, but A-n-n-e looks so much more distinguished.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it looks dreadful", ensure the context clearly identifies what "it" refers to. Ambiguity can weaken the impact of your statement.

Common error

While appropriate in many situations, using "it looks dreadful" in highly formal or professional writing may sound too informal or emotional. Consider using alternatives like "it is visually unappealing" or "it presents poorly" in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it looks dreadful" functions as an evaluative statement, expressing a negative judgment about the visual appearance of something. As shown in Ludwig, examples from news sources commonly use this phrase to convey dissatisfaction or criticism.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it looks dreadful" is a grammatically correct and usable expression for conveying a strong negative opinion about the appearance of something. As Ludwig highlights, its primary usage is in news and media contexts. While effective in neutral and informal settings, more formal alternatives may be preferable for academic or professional writing. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is valid. When using this phrase, clarity in identifying what "it" refers to is crucial for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it appears awful

Replaces "dreadful" with "awful", indicating a similar negative appearance.

it looks awful to me

Adds "to me" to emphasize the subjective nature of the opinion, without significantly altering the core meaning.

it seems terrible

Substitutes "looks" with "seems" and "dreadful" with "terrible", both conveying a negative impression.

it looks hideous

Replaces "dreadful" with "hideous", emphasizing the repulsiveness of the appearance.

it appears unsightly

Uses "unsightly" instead of "dreadful", focusing on the visual unpleasantness.

it looks atrocious

Replaces "dreadful" with "atrocious", indicating an extremely bad or unpleasant appearance.

it seems appalling

Uses "appalling" instead of "dreadful", suggesting a shocking or dismaying appearance.

it seems ghastly

Uses "ghastly" instead of "dreadful", implying a shocking or horrible appearance.

it appears grim

Substitutes "looks" with "appears" and uses "grim" to describe a bleak and uninviting look.

it seems to be in terrible condition

Changes the structure to focus on the condition of the subject rather than just its appearance, still conveying a negative impression.

FAQs

What does "it looks dreadful" mean?

The phrase "it looks dreadful" means that something has a very unpleasant or unattractive appearance. It indicates a strong negative opinion about how something appears.

What can I say instead of "it looks dreadful"?

You can use alternatives like "it appears awful", "it seems terrible", or "it looks hideous" to express a similar sentiment.

Is "it looks dreadful" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "it looks dreadful" is generally better suited for informal or neutral contexts. In formal writing, consider more professional alternatives such as "it is visually unappealing" or "it presents poorly".

How can I use "it looks dreadful" in a sentence?

You can use "it looks dreadful" to describe the appearance of something you find very unattractive, such as "The new building design was presented, but frankly, it looks dreadful."