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

“If you decide you want to close the landfill because it’s a god-awful mess, then you should do that. But that’s not going to help the potential endangerment problem.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2024

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

From The Verge • Jan. 14, 2022

One of the little hopes I have for this god-awful period in time is that we can return to offices someday wearing clothes that are more comfortable in our outfit rotations.

From Slate • Jul. 14, 2020

There was a god-awful quiet as nobody even looked my way.

From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool

god-awful

Example Sentences

Related Words