awful

Word Origin & History

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.

Example Sentences for awful

Phœbus protect me, but this is an awful place to speak of those who sleep.

"I think it's just awful—at his time of life, too," said Mrs. Bines.

It was awful to reflect how many sermons must have been written there.

It was awful to Harriett that her father should be ill, lying there at their mercy.

The awful thing was that she couldn't love him, couldn't go on being faithful.

But why did you never tell me your sister was such an awful swell of a singer?

And when the awful family began to come on, she would begin to go off!

"You're in for an awful blunder there," he said, good-naturedly.

Everybody says he will, because father is such an awful one.

Boys were flogged when criminals were hanged, to impress the awful warning on them.

awful

terrible

terrific

terrifying

tragic

tremendous

ugly

undescribable

unholy

awful

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