What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
dreadful
Example
The weather was dreadful, with heavy rain and strong winds. [dreadful: adjective]
Example
I had a dreadful feeling that something bad was going to happen. [dreadful: adjective]
Example
The company's financial results were dreadful, with huge losses reported. [dreadful: adjective]
horrible
Example
The food tasted horrible, I couldn't eat it. [horrible: adjective]
Example
It was a horrible experience, I never want to go through that again. [horrible: adjective]
Example
The way he treated his employees was horrible, he had no regard for their well-being. [horrible: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Horrible is more commonly used than dreadful in everyday language and is more versatile in terms of formality and context.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between dreadful and horrible?
Dreadful is often associated with a more serious or formal tone, while horrible can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
