definition of
awful

[1] #1 awful s. [atrocious, abominable, dreadful, painful, terrible, unspeakable] 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". wn

[2] #2 awful r. [terribly, awfully, frightfully] used as intensifiers; "terribly interesting"; "I'm awful sorry". wn

[3] #3 awful s. [dire, direful, dread, dreaded, dreadful, fearful, fearsome, frightening, horrendous, horrific, terrible] 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"; ". wn

[4] #4 awful s. [awed] inspired by a feeling of fearful wonderment or reverence; "awed by the silence"; "awful worshippers with bowed heads". wn

[5] #5 awful s. [amazing, awe-inspiring, awesome, awing] inspiring awe or admiration or wonder; "New York is an amazing city"; "the Grand Canyon is an awe-inspiring sight"; "the awesome complexity of the universe"; "this sea, whose gently awful stirrings seem to speak of some hidden soul beneath"- Melville; "We. wn