Definitions

god-awful

[god-aw-fuhl] / ˈgɒdˈɔ fəl /

ADJECTIVE

lamentable

Synonyms

STRONGEST

calamitous deplorable dire distressing grievous grim lousy pitiful sad tragic unfortunate unsatisfactory woeful wretched

WEAK

afflictive awful bad dirty doleful dolorous heartbreaking hurting low lugubrious meager mean melancholy mournful plaintive poor regretful rotten rueful sorrowful stinking unfavorable

Antonyms

STRONGEST

blessed cheerful comforting excellent fortunate glad good great happy joyful lucky nice wonderful

WEAK

cheering satisfactory

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Viewers on social media denounced the use of AI in the film, with one commenter calling it "the most god-awful ad I've seen this year".

From BBC • Dec. 10, 2025

Usually, hybrid watches are god-awful at tracking GPS activity.

From The Verge • Jan. 14, 2022

“This pandemic has been god-awful for so many reasons,” Biden said.

From Washington Post • Sep. 16, 2021

Moreover, most people “overwhelmingly prefer to interact with a live person when dealing with customer service centers,” meaning consumers despise those god-awful automated switchboards beloved by penny-pinching businesses.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 3, 2021

“I’ve learned a lot in the last couple of days. You learn a lot in a god-awful place like this.”

From "Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy" by Gary D. Schmidt

god-awful

Example Sentences

Related Words