so dreadful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "so dreadful" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the extent of something being terrible or unpleasant. Example: "The weather was so dreadful that we decided to stay indoors all day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

That might not be so dreadful.

The New York Times

No wonder they all become so dreadful.

The New Yorker

That is why it was so dreadful".

The Guardian

Surely, a toll so dreadful demands the utmost urgency.

The Economist

It would be funny if it weren't so dreadful.

The Guardian

It does not have to be so dreadful.

The Guardian - Sport

Or even appearing in public to explain why the Knicks are so dreadful.

The New York Times

Because Mr Milosevic was so dreadful, western officials felt no compunction about fostering coalitions against him.

The Economist

It's that the public record of the Olympics is so dreadful.

The New York Times

The first quarter was so dreadful that the Jets had the ball for three minutes.

The New York Times - Sports

'Calling me God's architect - so dreadful.' Oh, I wouldn't dream of doing that.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "so dreadful" to emphasize the extremely negative or unpleasant nature of a situation, event, or object. It's particularly effective when you want to convey a sense of strong dislike or aversion.

Common error

While "so dreadful" is acceptable, avoid overusing it in casual conversation. Consider more colloquial alternatives like "so bad" or "so awful" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "so dreadful" functions as an intensifier modifying an adjective. It emphasizes the extreme degree to which something is unpleasant, awful, or inspires dread. According to Ludwig, its usage is grammatically correct and can be found in numerous contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "so dreadful" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to emphasize the intensity of something negative or unpleasant. As confirmed by Ludwig, it functions as an intensifier and serves to convey strong negative sentiments across a range of contexts, particularly in news and media. While generally neutral in register, it's advisable to consider the audience and opt for more casual alternatives in informal settings. When aiming to express a high degree of aversion or displeasure, "so dreadful" is an appropriate and impactful choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utterly dreadful

Adds the adverb "utterly" to intensify the meaning of "dreadful".

so terrible

Replaces "dreadful" with a more common synonym, "terrible".

so awful

Substitutes "dreadful" with "awful", another frequently used alternative.

so horrible

Replaces "dreadful" with "horrible", implying a strong sense of disgust.

so appalling

Uses "appalling" instead of "dreadful", suggesting something shocking and deeply unpleasant.

so frightful

Employs "frightful" in place of "dreadful", emphasizing the alarming nature of something.

so atrocious

Replaces "dreadful" with "atrocious", indicating extreme wickedness or cruelty.

so ghastly

Substitutes "dreadful" with "ghastly", conveying a sense of horror or shock.

so unbearable

Replaces "dreadful" with "unbearable", focusing on the inability to tolerate something.

so unbearable to experience

Emphasizes the difficulty of enduring something by adding "to experience".

FAQs

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

You can use "so dreadful" to describe something extremely unpleasant. For example: "The weather was "so dreadful" that we stayed inside all day."

What are some alternatives to "so dreadful"?

Alternatives include "so terrible", "so awful", or "so horrible", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "so dreadful" formal or informal?

"So dreadful" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. While usable in many contexts, consider your audience and choose more casual language like "so bad" for informal settings.

What makes "so dreadful" different from "very bad"?

"So dreadful" implies a stronger sense of unpleasantness or aversion compared to the more general phrase "very bad". "Dreadful" suggests something causing dread or fear, while "bad" is a broader term for anything undesirable.