"Dreadful" vs. "terrible": a comparative insight

Reviewed and edited by

Lloyd Cooper 25/10/2024, 18:28

English.me team member

Dreadful and terrible. What's the difference?

What is similar?

Both "dreadful" and "terrible" are adjectives used to describe something that is very bad, unpleasant, or causing fear and alarm. They often serve as synonyms and can be used interchangeably in many contexts.

What is different?

While both words indicate something negative, "dreadful" often conveys a sense of fear or dread, suggesting an emotional or psychological impact. "Terrible" typically emphasizes the quality or extent of badness and is more neutral, often expressing severity or intensity rather than fear.

Which one is more common?

Examples of usage

Dreadful

The weather lately has been dreadful.
She had a dreadful feeling that something was wrong.
The accident resulted in dreadful injuries.

Terrible

The food at the restaurant was terrible.
I had a terrible headache last night.
That was a terrible movie.