Awesome vs. Awful — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Awesome and Awful
ADVERTISEMENT
Compare with Definitions
Awesome
Extremely impressive or daunting; inspiring awe
The awesome power of the atomic bomb
Awful
Very bad or unpleasant
An awful speech
The place smelled awful
I look awful in a swimsuit
Awesome
Inspiring awe
An awesome thunderstorm.
Awful
Used to emphasize the extent of something, especially something unpleasant or negative
I've made an awful fool of myself
Awesome
Expressing awe
Stood in awesome silence before the ancient ruins.
ADVERTISEMENT
Awful
Inspiring reverential wonder or fear.
Awesome
(Slang) Remarkable; outstanding
"a totally awesome arcade game" (Los Angeles Times).
Awful
Awfully; very
We're an awful long way from the motorway
Awesome
(dated) Causing awe or terror; inspiring wonder or excitement.
The waterfall in the middle of the rainforest was an awesome sight.
The tsunami was awesome in its destructive power.
Awful
Extremely bad or unpleasant; terrible
Had an awful day at the office.
Awesome
(colloquial) Excellent, exciting, remarkable.
That was awesome!
Awesome, dude!
Awful
Commanding awe
"this sea, whose gently awful stirrings seem to speak of some hidden soul beneath" (Herman Melville).
Awesome
(slang) nodot=a: the quality, state, or essence of being awesome.
Pure awesome
Made of awesome
Awful
Filled with or displaying great reverence.
Awesome
Causing awe; appalling; awful; as, an awesome sight.
Awful
(Obsolete) Afraid.
Awesome
Expressive of awe or terror.
An awesome glance up at the auld castle.
Awful
Formidable in nature or extent
An awful burden.
An awful risk.
Awesome
Inspiring awe or admiration or wonder;
New York is an amazing city
The Grand Canyon is an awe-inspiring sight
The awesome complexity of the universe
This sea, whose gently awful stirrings seem to speak of some hidden soul beneath
Westminster Hall's awing majesty, so vast, so high, so silent
Awful
Extremely; very
Was awful sick.
Awful
Very bad.
My socks smell awful.
We saw such an awful film last night that we left the theater before the end.
Awful
Exceedingly great; usually applied intensively.
An awful bonnet
I have learnt an awful amount today.
Awful
Causing fear or horror; appalling, terrible.
Awful
Inspiring awe; filling with profound reverence or respect; profoundly impressive.
Awful
Struck or filled with awe or reverence.
Awful
(obsolete) Terror-stricken.
Awful
(colloquial) Awfully; dreadfully; terribly.
Awful
Very, extremely.
That's an awful big house.
She seemed awful nice when I met her yesterday.
He was blubbering away something awful.
Awful
Oppressing with fear or horror; appalling; terrible; as, an awful scene.
Awful
Inspiring awe; filling with profound reverence, or with fear and admiration; fitted to inspire reverential fear; profoundly impressive.
Heaven's awful Monarch.
Awful
Struck or filled with awe; terror-stricken.
A weak and awful reverence for antiquity.
Awful
Worshipful; reverential; law-abiding.
Thrust from the company of awful men.
Awful
Frightful; exceedingly bad; great; - applied intensively; as, an awful bonnet; an awful boaster.
Awful
Exceptionally bad or displeasing;
Atrocious taste
Abominable workmanship
An awful voice
Dreadful manners
A painful performance
Terrible handwriting
An unspeakable odor came sweeping into the room
Awful
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
Awful
Offensive or even (of persons) malicious;
In a nasty mood
A nasty accident
A nasty shock
A nasty smell
A nasty trick to pull
Will he say nasty things at my funeral?
Awful
Inspired by a feeling of fearful wonderment or reverence;
Awed by the silence
Awful worshippers with bowed heads
Awful
Inspiring awe or admiration or wonder;
New York is an amazing city
The Grand Canyon is an awe-inspiring sight
The awesome complexity of the universe
This sea, whose gently awful stirrings seem to speak of some hidden soul beneath
Westminster Hall's awing majesty, so vast, so high, so silent
Awful
Used as intensifiers;
Terribly interesting
I'm awful sorry
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Sieve vs. Winnow
Next Comparison
Competent vs. Competitive
