01 a. Oppressing with fear or horror; appalling; terrible; as, an awful scene.
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1.
Oppressing with fear or horror; appalling; terrible; as, an awful scene.
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2.
Inspiring awe; filling with profound reverence, or with fear and admiration; fitted to inspire reverential fear; profoundly impressive.“Heaven's awful Monarch.” — Milton.
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3.
Struck or filled with awe; terror-stricken.[Obs.]“A weak and awful reverence for antiquity.” — I. Watts.
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4.
Worshipful; reverential; law-abiding.[Obs.]“Thrust from the company of awful men.” — Shak.
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5.
Frightful; exceedingly bad; great; -- applied intensively; as, an awful bonnet; an awful boaster.[Slang]
Syn.
See Frightful.