definition of
dreadful

[1] #1 dreadful s. [awful, dire, direful, dread, dreaded, 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

[2] #2 dreadful s. [atrocious, abominable, awful, 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