Awful
adjective
Very bad or unpleasant.
The weather was awful yesterday.
Often appears as...
- awful weather
- awful experience
adjective
Used for emphasis to mean remarkably good or impressive.
She makes an awful good cup of coffee.
Often appears as...
- awful good
- awful nice
Usage tips
Informal, Approving
adjective
In awe; filled with or displaying a sense of awe.
The mountains have an awful majesty.
Often appears as...
- awful majesty
- awful silence
Usage tips
Literary
adjective
Causing or deserving public condemnation.
The conditions in the prison were awful.
Often appears as...
- awful conditions
- awful scenario
adjective
Very bad or unpleasant.
The weather was awful yesterday.
Often appears as...
- awful weather
- awful experience
adjective
Used for emphasis to mean remarkably good or impressive.
She makes an awful good cup of coffee.
Often appears as...
- awful good
- awful nice
Usage tips
Informal, Approving
adjective
In awe; filled with or displaying a sense of awe.
The mountains have an awful majesty.
Often appears as...
- awful majesty
- awful silence
Usage tips
Literary
adjective
Causing or deserving public condemnation.
The conditions in the prison were awful.
Often appears as...
- awful conditions
- awful scenario
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Emphasis
Strengthens a negative statement, more than just 'bad'.
That was an awful movie, I didn't enjoy it at all.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Polite
Could sound rude if describing someone's work or efforts.
Telling her she did an awful job may hurt her feelings.
Pro Tip 3/3Strong Discomfort
Conveys a sense of physical or emotional discomfort.
I felt awful after eating too much cake.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Emphasis
Strengthens a negative statement, more than just 'bad'.
That was an awful movie, I didn't enjoy it at all.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Polite
Could sound rude if describing someone's work or efforts.
Telling her she did an awful job may hurt her feelings.
Pro Tip 3/3Strong Discomfort
Conveys a sense of physical or emotional discomfort.
I felt awful after eating too much cake.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Emphasis
Strengthens a negative statement, more than just 'bad'.
That was an awful movie, I didn't enjoy it at all.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Polite
Could sound rude if describing someone's work or efforts.
Telling her she did an awful job may hurt her feelings.
Pro Tip 3/3Strong Discomfort
Conveys a sense of physical or emotional discomfort.
I felt awful after eating too much cake.
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Video examples
Looks aren't everything....
but the free stuff that I get is the free stuff that I get in real life, and that's what we don't like to talk about. I grew up in Cambridge, and one time I went into a store and I forgot my money and they gave me the dress for free. When I was a teenager, I was driving with my friend who was an awful driver and she ran a red and of course, we got pulled over,
Video examples
Handraising Twin Tiger...
There is an awful lot of pressure, you know. First and foremost, you know, there's pressure because these guys are so important to not only us here at the zoo, but also to the breeding programme. Potentially, a lot of eyes around the world that are watching what we're doing and making sure we do a good job.
Video examples
The science of stage...
That fear of being seen as an awful idiot is a threat reaction from a primitive part of your brain that's very hard to control. It's the fight or flight response, a self-protective process seen in a range of animals, most of which don't give speeches. But we have a wise partner in the study of freaking out.
Video examples
Princess Diana's Funeral...
INGRID The queen was actually extremely nervous because she could feel the hostility, and actually she heard people say, ooh, about time you've come. You know, they could hear an awful lot of things that the crowds say. And then I think a woman actually gave her a bunch of flowers and said, "Would you
Video examples
It’s time to embrace our...
you need to be there you need to see the mistakes and failures of people around you and indeed as important as formal education is certainly the most important things that cities produce our entrepreneurial talent and measures of entrepreneurship which are crappy which are awful do a remarkable job of
Video examples
Adorable Tiger Cub...
the cubs will be vulnerable to illness until they're around six weeks old so giles has got to keep a close eye on them round the clock there is an awful lot of pressure you know this first and foremost you know there's pressure because these guys are so important to not only
Video examples
Why do we feel...
or even a longing to return to one's fetal state. But over the next few decades, the understanding of nostalgia changed in two important ways. Its meaning expanded from indicating homesickness to a general longing for the past. And rather than an awful disease,
Video examples
Rescued Spider Monkey...
it's been a very a very long journey with them with various ups and downs these are monkeys that have had an awful start to life they've been ripped away from their mothers from their families and now here they all laugh so you
Video examples
Ze Frank: Are you human?
Have you ever woken up blissfully and suddenly been flooded by the awful remembrance that someone had left you? Have you ever lost the ability to imagine a future without a person that no longer was in your life?
Video examples
How does the thyroid...
Luckily, there are medical treatments that can help trigger the thyroid's activities again, and bring the body back to a steady metabolic rate. For such a little organ, the thyroid wields an awful lot of power.
Video examples
Looks aren't everything....
but the free stuff that I get is the free stuff that I get in real life, and that's what we don't like to talk about. I grew up in Cambridge, and one time I went into a store and I forgot my money and they gave me the dress for free. When I was a teenager, I was driving with my friend who was an awful driver and she ran a red and of course, we got pulled over,
Video examples
Handraising Twin Tiger...
There is an awful lot of pressure, you know. First and foremost, you know, there's pressure because these guys are so important to not only us here at the zoo, but also to the breeding programme. Potentially, a lot of eyes around the world that are watching what we're doing and making sure we do a good job.
Video examples
The science of stage...
That fear of being seen as an awful idiot is a threat reaction from a primitive part of your brain that's very hard to control. It's the fight or flight response, a self-protective process seen in a range of animals, most of which don't give speeches. But we have a wise partner in the study of freaking out.
Video examples
Princess Diana's Funeral...
INGRID The queen was actually extremely nervous because she could feel the hostility, and actually she heard people say, ooh, about time you've come. You know, they could hear an awful lot of things that the crowds say. And then I think a woman actually gave her a bunch of flowers and said, "Would you
Video examples
It’s time to embrace our...
you need to be there you need to see the mistakes and failures of people around you and indeed as important as formal education is certainly the most important things that cities produce our entrepreneurial talent and measures of entrepreneurship which are crappy which are awful do a remarkable job of
Video examples
Adorable Tiger Cub...
the cubs will be vulnerable to illness until they're around six weeks old so giles has got to keep a close eye on them round the clock there is an awful lot of pressure you know this first and foremost you know there's pressure because these guys are so important to not only
Video examples
Why do we feel...
or even a longing to return to one's fetal state. But over the next few decades, the understanding of nostalgia changed in two important ways. Its meaning expanded from indicating homesickness to a general longing for the past. And rather than an awful disease,
Video examples
Rescued Spider Monkey...
it's been a very a very long journey with them with various ups and downs these are monkeys that have had an awful start to life they've been ripped away from their mothers from their families and now here they all laugh so you
Video examples
Ze Frank: Are you human?
Have you ever woken up blissfully and suddenly been flooded by the awful remembrance that someone had left you? Have you ever lost the ability to imagine a future without a person that no longer was in your life?
Video examples
How does the thyroid...
Luckily, there are medical treatments that can help trigger the thyroid's activities again, and bring the body back to a steady metabolic rate. For such a little organ, the thyroid wields an awful lot of power.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Elon Musk
South African Businessman
If anyone thinks they'd rather be in a different part of history, they're probably not a very good student of history. Life sucked in the old days. People knew very little, and you were likely to die at a young age of some horrible disease. You'd probably have no teeth by now. It would be particularly awful if you were a woman.
Quote examples
Tom Hanks
American Actor
I love what I do for a living, it's the greatest job in the world, but you have to survive an awful lot of attention that you don't truly deserve and you have to live up to your professional responsibilities and I'm always trying to balance that with what is really important.
Quote examples
Alice Walker
American Author
It's an awful feeling to write something that you feel is really important... and to feel that you're being published by people who really don't get it and/or don't really care.
Quote examples
Douglas Adams
English Writer
One of the most important things you learn from the Internet is that there is no 'them' out there. It's just an awful lot of 'us.
Quote examples
Alan Rickman
British Actor
I suppose with any good writing and interesting characters, you can have that awfully overused word: a journey.
Quote examples
Lawrence Block
American Writer
I don't plan an awful lot in life just as I don't plan an awful lot in my fiction.
Quote examples
Domhnall Gleeson
Irish Actor
In 'Cavalry,' I had one scene where I was playing a pretty awful character.
Quote examples
Ronnie Wood
English Musician
It's an awful world out there. You've got to make people happy.
Quote examples
John Denver
American Musician
Divorce is just the most awful thing in the world.
Quote examples
Ann Richards
American Politician
I have an awfully good life.
Quote examples
Elon Musk
South African Businessman
If anyone thinks they'd rather be in a different part of history, they're probably not a very good student of history. Life sucked in the old days. People knew very little, and you were likely to die at a young age of some horrible disease. You'd probably have no teeth by now. It would be particularly awful if you were a woman.
Quote examples
Tom Hanks
American Actor
I love what I do for a living, it's the greatest job in the world, but you have to survive an awful lot of attention that you don't truly deserve and you have to live up to your professional responsibilities and I'm always trying to balance that with what is really important.
Quote examples
Alice Walker
American Author
It's an awful feeling to write something that you feel is really important... and to feel that you're being published by people who really don't get it and/or don't really care.
Quote examples
Douglas Adams
English Writer
One of the most important things you learn from the Internet is that there is no 'them' out there. It's just an awful lot of 'us.
Quote examples
Alan Rickman
British Actor
I suppose with any good writing and interesting characters, you can have that awfully overused word: a journey.
Quote examples
Lawrence Block
American Writer
I don't plan an awful lot in life just as I don't plan an awful lot in my fiction.
Quote examples
Domhnall Gleeson
Irish Actor
In 'Cavalry,' I had one scene where I was playing a pretty awful character.
Quote examples
Ronnie Wood
English Musician
It's an awful world out there. You've got to make people happy.
Quote examples
John Denver
American Musician
Divorce is just the most awful thing in the world.
Quote examples
Ann Richards
American Politician
I have an awfully good life.
Example 1 of 10
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