Awful Definition
awful
adverb
- used as intensifiers; "terribly interesting"; "I'm awful sorry"
adjective
- exceptionally bad or displeasing; "atrocious taste"; "abominable workmanship"; "an awful voice"; "dreadful manners"; "a painful performance"; "terrible handwriting"; "an unspeakable odor came sweeping into the room"
- causing fear or dread or terror; "the awful war"; "an awful risk"; "dire news"; "a career or vengeance so direful that London was shocked"; "the dread presence of the headmaster"; "polio is no longer the dreaded disease it once was"; "a dreadful storm"; "a fearful howling"; "horrendous explosions shook the city"; "a terrible curse"
- offensive or even (of persons) malicious; "in a nasty mood"; "a nasty accident"; "a nasty shock"; "a nasty smell"; "a nasty trick to pull"; "Will he say nasty things at my funeral?"- Ezra Pound
- inspired by a feeling of fearful wonderment or reverence; "awed by the silence"; "awful worshippers with bowed heads"
- extreme in degree or extent or amount or impact; "in a frightful hurry"; "spent a frightful amount of money"
- inspiring awe or admiration or wonder; "New York is an amazing city"; "the Grand Canyon is an awe-inspiring sight"; "the awesome complexity of the universe"; "this sea, whose gently awful stirrings seem to speak of some hidden soul beneath"- Melville; "Westminster Hall's awing majesty, so vast, so high, so silent"
"Awful" in song lyrics
See how awful is used in real songs:
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"Crush one's ginger bread tenement awful,"
Aesop Rock — Oxygen -
"Hungry got the munchies and my tummy's feelin' awful"
Anotha Level — What's That Cha Say -
"It's awful"
Black Moon — Rush
Words that rhyme with awful
Usage tips for "awful"
Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "awful" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for awful to find words that pair well.