dreadful
/ˈdredfl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdredfl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdred-fəl/ (ame, mw)
dreadful — adjective
- dreadfulpositive
- more dreadfulcomparative
- most dreadfulsuperlative
1. making someone feel very frightened, shocked, or deeply upset — for example, whe
making someone feel very frightened, shocked, or deeply upset — for example, when a serious accident happens, a violent act occurs, or terrible news is received.
A dreadful scream came from the building, and neighbours quickly called the police.
collocation: dreadful scream / dreadful news / dreadful dream
The earthquake caused dreadful damage to the older parts of the town.
Pim woke up from a dreadful nightmare, his heart beating fast and his hands shaking.
When the doctor gave the dreadful news, the whole family sat in shocked silence.
- terrifying
stronger emphasis on extreme fear; often used for threats to personal safety
- horrifying
focuses on shock and disgust rather than fear alone
- shocking
describes the surprise and upset caused by bad news or events
- wonderful
suggests something extremely positive and pleasing
- reassuring
describes something that calms fear rather than causes it
用法筆記
Less common in everyday conversation than sense 2 below. Reserve this sense for situations involving genuine fear or suffering, not mere annoyance.
常見錯誤
2. extremely bad in quality or extremely unpleasant to experience — so unsatisfacto
extremely bad in quality or extremely unpleasant to experience — so unsatisfactory that you want to avoid it or complain about it.
The hotel served a dreadful meal that tasted like cardboard and cold soup.
collocation: dreadful meal / dreadful service / dreadful film
The weather was dreadful all week, so the children played board games indoors.
collocation: dreadful weather
Eleni made a dreadful mistake by sending the confidential email to the wrong client.
Antonia thought the film was dreadful and decided to leave after thirty minutes.
用法筆記
Common after sense verbs (feel, look, taste, smell, sound): 'This soup tastes dreadful.' Do NOT use the adverb 'dreadfully' after these verbs — the adjective form is required.
常見錯誤
3. used before a noun to strongly emphasise how great or extreme something is, espe
used before a noun to strongly emphasise how great or extreme something is, especially when you are annoyed, surprised, or impressed by the degree of it.
Minho made a dreadful mess of the kitchen while cooking dinner for ten guests.
collocation: dreadful + abstract noun (mess / silence / guilt / hurry)
A dreadful silence fell over the classroom when the head teacher entered the room.
The family found themselves in a dreadful hurry to catch the last bus home.
Hassan felt a dreadful sense of guilt after losing his sister's favourite necklace.
- extreme
more neutral and formal; lacks the emotional colour of dreadful
- enormous
focuses on size or degree rather than emotional impact
- tremendous
similar intensifying force but can be positive or negative
dreadful — noun
1. a cheaply produced story, magazine, or newspaper that tries to excite or shock r
a cheaply produced story, magazine, or newspaper that tries to excite or shock readers with violent, scandalous, or gruesome content rather than provide serious information.
In the nineteenth century, dreadfuls were sold on street corners for just a few pennies.
dated countable noun: a cheap sensational story or periodical
The historian examined old dreadfuls to understand popular reading habits in Victorian times.
A colourful dreadful with a shocking headline sat on the corner of the newsstand.
The young boy spent his pocket money on dreadfuls instead of proper books.
- pulp magazine
a broader term for cheaply produced popular magazines from the same period
- penny dreadful
the full phrase from which the shortened form 'dreadful' derives
- sensationalist
describes any publication aiming to shock rather than inform; not limited to historical contexts
用法筆記
This sense is dated and rarely used in modern English. You are most likely to encounter it in historical discussions of 19th-century publishing and popular culture.