AWFUL - Definition & Meaning for Kids
Meaning 1
Part of speech: Adjective
causing fear or dread or terror
Example: 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
Amazing, Tremendous, Dire, Frightfully, Awful
Antonyms
🌱 Word Origin (Etymology)
The word "awful" comes from Middle English agheful. Many other languages have similar words:
- Old English: eġeful
🔗 Related Words
awe – A related word in the same word family.
ful – A related word in the same word family.
🧩 Fun Fact
Old English poetry used alliteration rather than rhyme, influencing how compound words formed.