dreadful

Adjective

WordNet 3.0

causing fear or dread or terror“the awful war”“an awful risk”“dire news”“a career or vengeance so direful that London was shocked”“the dread presence of the headmaster”“polio is no longer the dreaded disease it once was”“a dreadful storm”“a fearful howling”“horrendous explosions shook the city”“a terrible curse”Synonyms: awful dire direful dread(a)dreaded fearful fearsome frightening horrendous horrific terrible
exceptionally bad or displeasing“atrocious taste”“abominable workmanship”“an awful voice”“dreadful manners”“a painful performance”“terrible handwriting”“an unspeakable odor came sweeping into the room”Synonyms: atrocious abominable awful painful terrible unspeakable
very unpleasant

Dreadful \Dread"ful\, a.

1.Full of dread or terror; fearful. [Obs.] "With dreadful heart." --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

2.Inspiring dread; impressing great fear; fearful; terrible; as, a dreadful storm. " Dreadful gloom." --Milton. [1913 Webster]

For all things are less dreadful than they seem.— Wordsworth.[1913 Webster]

3.Inspiring awe or reverence; awful. [Obs.] "God's dreadful law." --Shak.

Syn: Fearful; frightful; terrific; terrible; horrible; horrid; formidable; tremendous; awful; venerable. See Frightful. [1913 Webster]