as in dreadfulness
the quality of inspiring intense dread or dismay
the awfulness of the car accident can scarcely be described
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Recent Examples of awfulness
There is no way to sugarcoat the awfulness of those months of anxiety.
—
Kate Callen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Traditionally a dumping ground for films studios have no belief in, the first month of the year occasionally offers up films that stand out, whether due to memeability, genuine quality, or sheer rancid awfulness.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 21 Jan. 2026
Michael’s awfulness and aggression drew a lot of heat his way and helped activate most of the cast into what will hopefully be a competitive back half.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2026
On the farthest rung of awfulness, the New York Jets became the first team in NFL history to go an entire season without intercepting a pass.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 6 Jan. 2026
Hence the modest point spread despite Jets’ awfulness.
—Greg Cote
january 1, Miami Herald, 1 Jan. 2026
Up-market producer David Susskind railed for four hours about the awfulness of the boob tube.
—Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
The awfulness of it scrapes my veins, turning everything orange and raw.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Brent had flown to Rio in December to escape the awfulness of his life in New York.
—David Velasco, Harpers Magazine, 18 Dec. 2023
Kate Callen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Traditionally a dumping ground for films studios have no belief in, the first month of the year occasionally offers up films that stand out, whether due to memeability, genuine quality, or sheer rancid awfulness.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 21 Jan. 2026
Michael’s awfulness and aggression drew a lot of heat his way and helped activate most of the cast into what will hopefully be a competitive back half.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2026
On the farthest rung of awfulness, the New York Jets became the first team in NFL history to go an entire season without intercepting a pass.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 6 Jan. 2026
Hence the modest point spread despite Jets’ awfulness.
—Greg Cote
january 1, Miami Herald, 1 Jan. 2026
Up-market producer David Susskind railed for four hours about the awfulness of the boob tube.
—Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
The awfulness of it scrapes my veins, turning everything orange and raw.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Brent had flown to Rio in December to escape the awfulness of his life in New York.
—David Velasco, Harpers Magazine, 18 Dec. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for awfulness
Noun
-
Thompson’s death was greeted with horror and sympathy for the victim’s family but also with disturbingly widespread support for the assassin—fueled by outrage at insurers, whom many fault for blocking medical care.—
Chris Pope,
Washington Post,
10 Feb. 2026
-
There is a melding of genres, of thriller, of coming of age, of horror, of action.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
And Brundage ensures that his readers will not dismiss the record of prison atrocities.—
Drew Gilpin Faust,
The Atlantic,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The Buckley case spawned other loopholes from Congress and the courts over the years, directly culminating in the 2010 atrocity of the Citizens United case.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
What makes your own skin crawl isn’t just the hideousness of the violence but the unblinking matter-of-factness with which DaCosta films it.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Awfulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/awfulness. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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