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; a fearful howling; horrendous explosions shook the city; a terrible curse

[ Syn: awful , dire , dread , dreaded , dreadful , fearful , fearsome , frightening , horrendous , horrific , terrible ]