awful

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♦ aw|ful /'ɔːfʊl/
1 [ADJ]
If you say that someone or something is awful, you dislike that person or thing or you think that they are not very good.
We met and I thought he was awful...
...an awful smell of paint...
Even if the weather's awful there's lots to do...
Jeans look awful on me.
= dreadful
≠ wonderful
● awfulness [N-UNCOUNT]
The programme's awfulness has ensured it is talked about.
2 [ADJ]
If you say that something is awful, you mean that it is extremely unpleasant, shocking, or bad.
Her injuries were massive. It was awful...
Some of their offences are so awful they would chill the blood.
= horrific
3 [ADJ] v-link ADJ
If you look or feel awful, you look or feel ill.
I hardly slept at all and felt pretty awful...
= terrible
4 [ADJ] ADJ n
You can use awful with noun groups that refer to an amount in order to emphasize how large that amount is.
I've got an awful lot of work to do.
= tremendous
● awfully [ADV] usu ADV adj/adv
Would you mind awfully waiting a bit, I'll be back right away.
= terribly
5 [ADV] ADV adj
You can use awful with adjectives that describe a quality in order to emphasize that particular quality. (AM INFORMAL)
Gosh, you're awful pretty...
= very

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