most dreadful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "most dreadful" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the extreme unpleasantness or severity of something. Example: "The storm caused the most dreadful damage to the coastal town, leaving many residents homeless."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I saw the most dreadful things happening.

The Guardian

THE most dreadful cost of AIDS is in lives lost.

The Economist

"It has been the most dreadful time," she says.

The Guardian

The weakest and far from loveliest of peoples was given the most dreadful curse and most dreadful blessing" — to be God's chosen people.

The New Yorker

It has laid bare some of the facts about the world's most dreadful wars.

The Economist

The reign of King John was in all ways unlikely and, in most, dreadful.

The New Yorker

("He stands in the corner stamping with his legs and screaming in the most dreadful manner").

The New York Times - Books

Here is the most dreadful disappearance of all: destruction of the self under torture.

The New York Times - Books

The weakest and far from loveliest of peoples was given the most dreadful curse and most dreadful blessing"—to be God's chosen people.

The New Yorker

At first sight this looks like the most dreadful missed opportunity.

The Guardian

It is still frequently held to be one of the most dreadful films ever made.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "most dreadful", ensure the context warrants such a strong descriptor to avoid exaggeration or melodrama.

Common error

Avoid using "most dreadful" in everyday conversations or informal writing. Its intensity can sound overly dramatic or out of place. Opt for simpler alternatives like "very bad" or "terrible" in less formal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "most dreadful" functions as an intensifying adjective phrase. It modifies a noun to emphasize the extreme unpleasantness, severity, or awfulness of something. Ludwig examples show its use in diverse contexts to highlight negativity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "most dreadful" is an intensifying adjective phrase used to emphasize the extreme unpleasantness or severity of something. According to Ludwig, it functions to evoke a strong emotional response and is generally appropriate for neutral to formal contexts, though care should be taken to avoid overuse in casual settings. The phrase is found frequently in news media, science, and formal business contexts. While there are various alternatives, such as "most awful" or "most terrible", "most dreadful" carries a particularly strong and dramatic tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

most awful

Replaces "dreadful" with a more common synonym for something extremely unpleasant.

most terrible

Substitutes "dreadful" with a word implying intense fear or seriousness.

most horrendous

Replaces "dreadful" with a term suggesting extreme shock or disgust.

most appalling

Substitutes "dreadful" with a word indicating something shocking and deeply unpleasant.

most frightful

Replaces "dreadful" with a term that emphasizes causing great fear or alarm.

most horrible

Substitutes "dreadful" with a common word for something extremely unpleasant or bad.

most horrific

Replaces "dreadful" to highlight the element of horror or shock.

most dire

Substitutes "dreadful" with a term that suggests a situation of extreme seriousness and urgency.

most grim

Replaces "dreadful" with a term that suggests something depressing or pessimistic.

most ghastly

Substitutes "dreadful" with a word implying something shockingly repulsive or horrible.

FAQs

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

Use "most dreadful" to describe something extremely unpleasant or severe, such as "The "most dreadful experience"" or "the "most dreadful consequences"".

What are some alternatives to "most dreadful"?

Alternatives include "most awful", "most terrible", and "most horrific", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

Yes, "most dreadful" is appropriate for formal writing when you want to emphasize the extreme negative nature of something. However, ensure the tone matches the context.

What's the difference between "most dreadful" and "very bad"?

"Most dreadful" is more intense and dramatic than "very bad". Use "most dreadful" when you want to convey a sense of horror or extreme unpleasantness, while "very bad" is a more general and milder term.