Dreadfuls

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Definitions

1. Characterized by a sense of intense fear or apprehension, often regarded with strong disapproval or disgust; described as being extremely bad or unpleasant, bringing forth feelings of dread and aversion; encompassing circumstances or events that provoke anxiety or horror due to their negative qualities or consequences
2. Marked by a fearful or dreadful presence, frequently associated with situations that elicit strong negative emotions; possessing attributes that are considered terrible, causing agitation or distress; relating to phenomena that inspire foreboding or trepidation due to their unpleasant nature
3. Evoking a profound sense of fear and unease, often viewed with considerable revulsion or condemnation; identified as significantly inferior or objectionable, instilling a sense of dread among observers; pertaining to occurrences that generate discomfort or terror because of their distressing attributes

Etymology: "Dreadfuls" is the plural of "dreadful," used as a noun in the sense of cheap, sensational or lurid stories, though the plural form itself is the inflection. The adjective "dreadful" comes from Middle English "dredful," "dredfull," "dredeful," and sometimes "dreful," formed by adding the suffix "-ful" to "dread," which gives it its literal sense of being full of dread. The base word "dread" is the older root here, and the "-ful" ending, which means "full of," was attached to it in the same way as in "careful" or "hopeful." So a dreadful thing is, at its root, a thing full of dread, meaning fear or awe. Over time the word moved from describing something that inspires fear to describing something merely unpleasant or bad, which explains why "dreadful" can now mean anything from a terrible storm to a poor meal.

Synonyms: terrible, awful, horrible

Antonyms: wonderful, pleasant