What an awful thing to say! Would life be so awful without a car? The food was awful. She'd been ill and she looked awful.

AWFUL definition: extremely bad; unpleasant; ugly. See examples of awful used in a sentence.

The meaning of AWFUL is extremely disagreeable or objectionable. How to use awful in a sentence. Using Awful as an Adjective and Adverb: Usage Guide

If you say that something is awful, you mean that it is extremely unpleasant, shocking, or bad. Her injuries were massive. It was awful. Some of their offences are so awful they would chill the …

Dec 14, 2025 · awful (comparative awfuller or more awful, superlative awfullest or most awful) Very bad.

Define awful. awful synonyms, awful pronunciation, awful translation, English dictionary definition of awful. adj. 1. Extremely bad or unpleasant; terrible: had an awful day at the office.

• It sounds awful, but I just can't stand his parents. • a really awful concert • The curtains in the photo are an awful fifties maroon, the color of dried blood.

awful, adj. & adv. meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the Oxford English Dictionary

AWFUL meaning: 1 : extremely bad or unpleasant; 2 : causing feelings of fear and wonder awesome

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.