1causing or involving great suffering, fear, or unhappiness; extremely bad or serious:there’s been a dreadful accident extremely disagreeable:the weather was dreadful (of a person) unwell or troubled:I feel dreadful—I hate myself she looked quite dreadful and she was struggling for breath
2 [attributive] used to emphasize the degree to which something is the case, especially something regarded with sadness or disapproval:this was all a dreadful mistake you’re a dreadful flirt
