Awful


Synonyms for awful
adj very bad; terrible

depressing
dreadful
atrocious
horrific
distressing
tough
harrowing
horrible
disgusting

appalling
frightful
ugly
unpleasant
ghastly
dire
horrendous
gruesome
nasty

hideous
shocking
abominable
alarming
deplorable
fearful
gross
grungy
offensive

raunchy
repulsive
stinking
synthetic
unsightly
horrifying
grody

Antonyms for awful

encouraging
pleasant
pleasing
wonderful
inoffensive
comforting
kind

calming
attractive
delightful
beautiful
OK
happy
delicate

gentle
nice
agreeable
good
safe
great

Usage Notes

Although some object to any use of awful or awfully in any sense not connected with a feeling of awe, both have been used in other senses for several centuries. Awful and awfully as adverbial intensifiers—awful(ly)hot; awful(ly)cold—appear in the early 19th century, following much the same pattern as horribly anddreadfully. As an adverb awful is less formal in tone than awfully. In the sense “inspiring awe or fear” awesome has largely replaced awful.

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  • Awhile

    Synonyms for awhile adv for a short period briefly momentarily temporarily for a bit for a little while for a moment for a spell for a while for the moment not for long transiently Usage Notes The adverb awhile is spelled as a single word: After stopping in Hadley awhile, we drove to Deerfield. As […]

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    Synonyms for awkward adj clumsy, inelegant amateurish rude stiff artless bulky bungling butterfingers coarse gawky graceless green incompetent inept inexpert lumbering maladroit oafish uncoordinated uncouth unfit ungainly ungraceful unpolished unrefined unskilled unskillful bumbling klutzy all thumbs blundering floundering having two left feet having two left hands stumbling unhandy Antonyms for awkward adroit artful dexterous elegant […]

  • Awkward ages

    Synonyms for awkward ages noun early period in life of animate being minority prime boyhood juvenescence puberty ignorance jejuneness inexperience greenness innocence immaturity bloom childhood adolescence salad days teens girlhood youngness springtide youthfulness jejunity awkward age springtime of life tender age Antonyms for awkward ages knowledge maturity adulthood experience Synonyms noun adolescent pain awkward age […]

  • Awkward age

    Synonyms for awkward age noun early period in life of animate being minority prime boyhood juvenescence puberty ignorance jejuneness inexperience greenness innocence immaturity bloom childhood adolescence salad days teens girlhood youngness springtide youthfulness jejunity springtime of life tender age Antonyms for awkward age knowledge maturity adulthood experience Synonyms noun adolescent pain Synonyms noun youth prime […]


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