What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
awful
Example
The food at that restaurant was awful. [awful: adjective]
Example
She had an awful day at work, everything went wrong. [awful: adjective]
terrible
Example
The weather today is terrible, it's raining heavily. [terrible: adjective]
Example
He felt terrible after hearing the news of his friend's accident. [terrible: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Terrible is more commonly used than awful in everyday language. Terrible is versatile and covers a wider range of contexts, while awful is less common and tends to be used in more informal situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between awful and terrible?
While awful is typically associated with a more casual and informal tone, terrible can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
