dreadful

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Academy has been jonesing so hard to hand the man an Oscar that it nominated the dreadful “Licorice Pizza” a couple of years ago.

From Salon • Mar. 13, 2026

It would be possible to convey the essence of “The Life and Death of Peter Sellers,” by Roger Lewis, in a single sentence: Peter Sellers was a dreadful human being.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

By highlighting some of this procedural chicanery, Kagan’s dissent in Mirabelli laid bare, in remarkably blunt fashion, the tip of a dreadful iceberg.

From Slate • Mar. 4, 2026

Harrow East MP Bob Blackman said he was "deeply shocked and saddened to hear the dreadful news".

From BBC • Feb. 11, 2026

A dreadful fear passed coldly over Jo, as she thought, “Beth is dead, and Meg is afraid to tell me.”

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott