Antonyms for awful


Grammar : Adj
Spell : aw-fuh l
Phonetic Transcription : ˈɔ fəl


Definition of awful

Origin :
  • c.1300, agheful "worthy of respect or fear," from aghe, an earlier form of awe (n.), + -ful. Replaced Old English egefull. Weakened sense "very bad" is from 1809; weakened sense of "exceedingly" is by 1818.
  • adj very bad; terrible
Example sentences :
  • PhÅ“bus protect me, but this is an awful place to speak of those who sleep.
  • Extract from : « Philothea » by Lydia Maria Child
  • "I think it's just awful—at his time of life, too," said Mrs. Bines.
  • Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
  • It was awful to reflect how many sermons must have been written there.
  • Extract from : « The Old Manse (From "Mosses From An Old Manse") » by Nathaniel Hawthorne
  • It was awful to Harriett that her father should be ill, lying there at their mercy.
  • Extract from : « Life and Death of Harriett Frean » by May Sinclair
  • The awful thing was that she couldn't love him, couldn't go on being faithful.
  • Extract from : « Life and Death of Harriett Frean » by May Sinclair
  • But why did you never tell me your sister was such an awful swell of a singer?
  • Extract from : « Weighed and Wanting » by George MacDonald
  • And when the awful family began to come on, she would begin to go off!
  • Extract from : « Weighed and Wanting » by George MacDonald
  • "You're in for an awful blunder there," he said, good-naturedly.
  • Extract from : « Ester Ried Yet Speaking » by Isabella Alden
  • Everybody says he will, because father is such an awful one.
  • Extract from : « Ester Ried Yet Speaking » by Isabella Alden
  • Boys were flogged when criminals were hanged, to impress the awful warning on them.
  • Extract from : « A Treatise on Parents and Children » by George Bernard Shaw

Synonyms for awful

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019