Definitions

god-awful

[god-aw-fuhl] / ˈgɒdˈɔ fəl /

ADJECTIVE

lamentable

Synonyms

STRONGEST

calamitous deplorable dire distressing grievous grim lousy pitiful sad tragic unfortunate unsatisfactory woeful wretched

WEAK

afflictive awful bad dirty doleful dolorous heartbreaking hurting low lugubrious meager mean melancholy mournful plaintive poor regretful rotten rueful sorrowful stinking unfavorable

Antonyms

STRONGEST

blessed cheerful comforting excellent fortunate glad good great happy joyful lucky nice wonderful

WEAK

cheering satisfactory

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.

Viewers on social media denounced the use of AI in the film, with one commenter calling it "the most god-awful ad I've seen this year".

From BBC • Dec. 10, 2025

“If you decide you want to close the landfill because it’s a god-awful mess, then you should do that. But that’s not going to help the potential endangerment problem.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2024

Media companies are experimenting with god-awful ChatGPT-fabricated blog posts as a way to juice vacant engagement—a content strategy that thoroughly abandons why people visit websites in the first place.

From Slate • Jul. 28, 2023

Usually, hybrid watches are god-awful at tracking GPS activity.

From The Verge • Jan. 14, 2022

“My brother and I were discussing business and heard the music. I told him, Now that is the most god-awful racket I’d ever heard.”

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead

god-awful

Example Sentences

Related Words