adjective
awful
Very bad or unpleasant.
An awful smell fills the kitchen when I open the refrigerator.
Etymology
Awe’s ancestor agi expressed fear or dread. Awful originally described what inspired awe; its frightening associations helped the word develop into a strong judgment that something is bad or unpleasant.
More examples
- I feel awful about missing your birthday.
- The hotel gets awful reviews for its dirty rooms.
- This coffee tastes awful, even with extra sugar.
Forms
awful
awfulness noun — The quality of being bad or unpleasant.
Similar words
- terrible
- Often emphasizes severe problems rather than general unpleasantness.
- horrible
- Emphasizes disgust, horror, or strong dislike more than awful.
- unpleasant
- Milder than awful; describes something uncomfortable or not enjoyable.