Dictionary Entry
awful
adjectiveFind the meaning of the word awful, plus dictionary definition, pronunciation, thesaurus-style synonyms, antonyms, and related vocabulary.
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Meaning
Dictionary meaning in a clear, student-friendly format.
Extremely bad, unpleasant, or of very poor quality; inspiring dread or fear.
Example Sentence
The food at the new restaurant was absolutely awful, and we left most of it untouched.
Usage Note
Use 'awful' to describe something that is very bad, unpleasant, or of poor quality, like an awful movie, an awful smell, or an awful mistake. It can also be used informally as an intensifier, as in 'awfully good' or 'awfully sorry', though this usage is less common in formal writing. It conveys a strong negative feeling.