less dreadful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less dreadful" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is not as bad or frightening as something else. Example: "The weather today is less dreadful than it was yesterday, making it more pleasant for a walk."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

None of which makes the experience any less dreadful.

The Economist

Such a death seems less dreadful, all of a sudden.

The Guardian

For once, the economy is in less dreadful shape than usual.

The Economist

The death of a volunteer soldier is less dreadful than the death of a conscript; the death of either perhaps less dreadful than that of a civilian who had the misfortune to live in a strategically important town.

The Guardian - Opinion

Both Gorbachev and de Klerk began as reformers — that is, politicians devoted to making a dreadful system less dreadful, not to actually abolishing it.

The New York Times - Magazine

Though, when new arrivals to the great outdoors in wildest Cumbria tackled the obstacles, they found they were less dreadful than they feared.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

So I should say up front that "The Hangover," Mr. Phillips's new movie (written by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, who contributed to the shockingly nonterrible script of "Four Christmases" and wrote the less surprisingly dreadful script of "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past") is often very funny.

The New York Times

The moment when he told his countrymen of the death of John F Kennedy, his composure for once crumbling, his eyes misting with emotion as he slowly took off and replaced his black-rimmed glasses, is seared into America's collective memory scarcely less deeply than the dreadful images from the motorcade itself.

Independent

Isis's brutal antics are less a cause than a dreadful symptom of previous bad policies and a power vacuum at the heart of the Middle East.

The Guardian - Opinion

If the American gets lucky – and he certainly was that in fighting a dreadful stiff for less than a round on Saturday night in Emilio Ezequiel Zarate – he could ruin the plot completely.

The Guardian - Sport

After all, the council has at least one strong point in its favour: it cannot be any less representative of Iraq than its dreadful predecessor was.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "less dreadful" to subtly convey that a situation or experience has improved, without necessarily becoming positive. It's effective for realistically portraying incremental progress or managing expectations.

Common error

Avoid using "less dreadful" when describing situations that have significantly improved. It can undermine the impact of genuine progress, creating the impression that you are downplaying positive developments.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less dreadful" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It's used to indicate a lower degree of something negative or unpleasant, as supported by Ludwig AI, showing its primary function is to express relative negativity. Examples illustrate how it modifies nouns to soften descriptions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

3%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "less dreadful" is a grammatically sound comparative adjective phrase that means not as bad or frightening as something else. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It's commonly used in contexts like news and media to express that a situation, while still negative, has improved or is not as severe. The related phrases such as "not as terrible" and "more bearable" offer similar meanings with slight variations in formality. When using "less dreadful", aim to convey a tempered assessment and avoid overstating the level of improvement. Common errors include using it when a situation has significantly improved, thereby undermining positive developments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not as terrible

Replaces "dreadful" with a more common synonym, making the phrase slightly less formal.

more bearable

Shifts the focus to the ability to endure something, rather than its inherent awfulness.

more tolerable

Similar to "more bearable", emphasizing the capacity to withstand something unpleasant.

not quite so awful

Uses a more emphatic synonym for "dreadful" while retaining a similar tone.

somewhat better

A more general and understated way of expressing improvement.

slightly improved

Focuses on the aspect of improvement, rather than the negativity.

not as frightening

Specifically addresses the fear-inducing aspect of something dreadful.

not so bad

An informal and simple way to indicate something is not as negative as expected.

a bit more acceptable

Emphasizes the aspect of being accepted or approved, rather than the reduction of dread.

marginally better

Highlights a small degree of improvement, suggesting it is not a significant change.

FAQs

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

You can use "less dreadful" to describe something that is not as bad as it was previously. For example, "The weather today is "less dreadful" than yesterday" or "The commute was "less dreadful" than I expected".

What are some alternatives to "less dreadful"?

Alternatives to "less dreadful" include "not as terrible", "more bearable", "somewhat better", or "not so bad". The best choice depends on the specific context and the desired level of formality.

Is it grammatically correct to say "less dreadful"?

Yes, "less dreadful" is grammatically correct. "Less" is used to compare things that cannot be counted (non-count nouns or abstract qualities), and "dreadful" is an adjective describing a quality. Therefore, it is correct to use "less" to indicate a lower degree of dreadfulness.

What's the difference between "less dreadful" and "more pleasant"?

"Less dreadful" implies a reduction in negativity, whereas "more pleasant" suggests an increase in positivity. "Less dreadful" is used when something is still unpleasant, but not as much as before. "More pleasant" indicates a generally positive experience.