Definitions
- Describing something that is shocking or horrifying. - Referring to a situation or event that is extremely unpleasant or unacceptable. - Talking about something that causes strong feelings of disapproval or disgust.
- Describing something that is extremely bad or unpleasant. - Referring to a situation or event that is causing great fear, worry, or distress. - Talking about something that is of very poor quality or performance.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe something negative or unpleasant.
- 2Both words can be used to express strong emotions.
- 3Both words can be used to describe situations, events, or conditions.
What is the difference?
- 1Intensity: Appalling implies a stronger sense of shock or horror compared to dreadful.
- 2Disapproval vs Fear: Appalling is more associated with disapproval or disgust, while dreadful is more associated with fear or distress.
- 3Quality vs Performance: Dreadful is often used to describe something of poor quality or performance, while appalling focuses more on the shocking or unacceptable nature of a situation.
- 4Subjectivity: The perception of what is appalling can vary from person to person, while dreadful generally refers to something universally bad or unpleasant.
- 5Usage: Appalling is less commonly used than dreadful in everyday language.
Remember this!
Appalling and dreadful are synonyms that both describe negative or unpleasant situations. However, there are some differences in their usage and connotations. Appalling is used to describe something shocking, horrifying, or extremely unpleasant, often causing strong feelings of disapproval or disgust. On the other hand, dreadful is used to describe something extremely bad, unpleasant, or of poor quality, often causing fear, worry, or distress. While appalling implies a stronger sense of shock or horror, dreadful is more associated with fear or distress.