Standard Lemma guide

awfulness

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: AO1 F AH0 L N AH0 S Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The state or quality of being awful.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The quality of striking with awe, or with reverence

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

Examples

  • the awfulness of this sacred place

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: dreadfulness, solemnity

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

The state of being struck with awe; a spirit of solemnity; profound reverence.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

a quality of extreme unpleasantness

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: dreadfulness, horridness, terribleness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: unpleasantness

Narrower terms: frightfulness

History

Etymology

From Middle English aghfulnesse, equivalent to awful + -ness.