Aweful vs. Awful — Which is Correct Spelling?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 19, 2024
"Aweful" is an incorrect spelling. The correct spelling is "awful," which denotes something very bad or unpleasant.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Aweful or Awful
How to spell Awful?
Aweful
Incorrect Spelling
Awful
Correct Spelling
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Key Differences
Associate "awful" with "flaw" - both have negative connotations and similar spelling.
Remember "awful" has just one 'e' in it.
Visualize "awful" as being something you'd say with an 'aw' expression because it's bad.
Think of "awful" as having an "awful" lot of negative meaning in it.
"Aweful" might sound like it’s full of awe, but "awful" is the correct negative adjective.
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How Do You Spell Awful Correctly?
Incorrect: The movie was really aweful.
Correct: The movie was really awful.
Incorrect: That joke was aweful.
Correct: That joke was awful.
Incorrect: The condition of the house was aweful.
Correct: The condition of the house was awful.
Incorrect: She had an aweful time at the party.
Correct: She had an awful time at the party.
Incorrect: The weather looks aweful today.
Correct: The weather looks awful today.
Awful Definitions
Extremely bad or unpleasant.
The weather outside is awful.
Morally reprehensible.
That's an awful thing to say.
Very bad or unpleasant
An awful speech
The place smelled awful
I look awful in a swimsuit
Used to emphasize the extent of something, especially something unpleasant or negative
I've made an awful fool of myself
Inspiring reverential wonder or fear.
Awfully; very
We're an awful long way from the motorway
Extremely bad or unpleasant; terrible
Had an awful day at the office.
Commanding awe
"this sea, whose gently awful stirrings seem to speak of some hidden soul beneath" (Herman Melville).
Filled with or displaying great reverence.
(Obsolete) Afraid.
Formidable in nature or extent
An awful burden.
An awful risk.
Extremely; very
Was awful sick.
Very bad.
My socks smell awful.
We saw such an awful film last night that we left the theater before the end.
Exceedingly great; usually applied intensively.
An awful bonnet
I have learnt an awful amount today.
Causing fear or horror; appalling, terrible.
Inspiring awe; filling with profound reverence or respect; profoundly impressive.
Struck or filled with awe or reverence.
(obsolete) Terror-stricken.
(colloquial) Awfully; dreadfully; terribly.
Very, extremely.
That's an awful big house.
She seemed awful nice when I met her yesterday.
He was blubbering away something awful.
Oppressing with fear or horror; appalling; terrible; as, an awful scene.
Inspiring awe; filling with profound reverence, or with fear and admiration; fitted to inspire reverential fear; profoundly impressive.
Heaven's awful Monarch.
Struck or filled with awe; terror-stricken.
A weak and awful reverence for antiquity.
Worshipful; reverential; law-abiding.
Thrust from the company of awful men.
Frightful; exceedingly bad; great; - applied intensively; as, an awful bonnet; an awful boaster.
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
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
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?
Inspired by a feeling of fearful wonderment or reverence;
Awed by the silence
Awful worshippers with bowed heads
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
Used as intensifiers;
Terribly interesting
I'm awful sorry
Used for emphasis to mean very.
She has an awful lot of books.
Causing fear or terror.
The accident was an awful sight.
Filled with awe (less common usage).
The vastness of the universe is truly awful.
Awful Meaning in a Sentence
The smell in the room was awful.
He felt awful after eating too much.
I have an awful feeling about this trip.
The weather turned awful during our hike.
They heard an awful noise coming from the basement.
The news reported an awful accident on the highway.
His attitude was awful throughout the day.
The kitchen was in an awful state after the party.
She looked awful in that dress, according to her sister.
She made an awful mistake in her report.
The room was left in an awful mess.
He had an awful sunburn after the beach day.
He has an awful lot of work to do by tomorrow.
The weather forecast predicts awful conditions for the weekend.
The customer service at that store is awful.
It was an awful decision that led to many problems.
The movie had some awful special effects.
It's awful that we have to wait so long.
She received an awful haircut from the new stylist.
The joke he told was in awful taste.
Awful rumors have been spreading about them.
It's awful how much waste is produced each year.
The traffic was awful this morning.
The pain in his leg was awful.
Their chances of winning are awful slim.
Awful Idioms & Phrases
An awful lot
A very large amount.
She has an awful lot of books in her collection.
Awful truth
A truth that is hard to accept.
He finally faced the awful truth about his failing business.
Awful weather
Very bad or unpleasant weather.
The picnic was ruined by the awful weather.
Feel awful
To feel very bad, either physically or emotionally.
She felt awful for forgetting her friend's birthday.
Look awful
To appear very unwell or in bad condition.
After staying up all night, he looked awful.
Awful sight
Something that is very unpleasant to look at.
The aftermath of the storm was an awful sight.
In awful taste
Something that is very offensive or poorly judged.
The joke he made was in awful taste.
Have an awful time
To have a very bad or unpleasant experience.
They had an awful time trying to find their way back.
Awful noise
A very loud and unpleasant sound.
The construction outside made an awful noise all day.
Awful mess
A very dirty or untidy state.
The kitchen was left in an awful mess after the party.
Awful pain
A very strong and uncomfortable physical sensation.
She was in awful pain after the surgery.
An awful shame
A situation that is very disappointing or regrettable.
It's an awful shame that the old theater is being torn down.
Awful lot to learn
Having a great deal to understand or familiarize oneself with.
The new employee has an awful lot to learn about the company.
Awful coincidence
A coincidence that is surprising and perhaps unwelcome.
It was an awful coincidence that they both wore the same dress to the party.
Awful secret
A secret that is particularly shocking or difficult to bear.
She discovered his awful secret and didn't know how to react.
Awful mistake
A very serious or significant error.
The accountant made an awful mistake on the tax return.
Awful predicament
A very difficult or unpleasant situation.
They found themselves in an awful predicament when their car broke down in the desert.
Awful hurry
Being in a great rush or needing to move quickly.
She was in an awful hurry to get to the airport.
Awful decision
A very bad or regrettable decision.
Looking back, it was an awful decision to travel during the storm.
Feel awful about
To feel very guilty or regretful regarding something.
He felt awful about missing the meeting.
An awful waste
A situation where resources are used poorly or not to their full potential.
Throwing away perfectly good food is an awful waste.
Awful truth
An unpleasant reality that must be faced.
The awful truth about the company's finances soon became clear.
Awful excuse
A very poor or unconvincing excuse.
He gave an awful excuse for being late again.
Common Curiosities
What is the verb form of awful?
"Awful" is an adjective, so it doesn't have a verb form.
What is the pronunciation of awful?
/ˈɔː.fəl/
Which vowel is used before awful?
The choice depends on context; e.g., "an awful" or "the awful."
Why is it called awful?
Historically, "awful" meant "full of awe," but evolved to denote something bad or unpleasant.
Is awful a negative or positive word?
Typically negative, but can be positive in older literature or certain contexts.
What is the plural form of awful?
Awful doesn't have a plural form as it's an adjective.
Is awful a noun or adjective?
Adjective.
What is the root word of awful?
The root is "awe."
What is the singular form of awful?
Awful (it's an adjective and doesn't have a singular form per se).
Which preposition is used with awful?
Depends on context; e.g., "awful at" or "awful for."
Which conjunction is used with awful?
Any conjunction can be used, depending on the sentence.
Is awful an adverb?
Yes, e.g., "awfully sorry."
How many syllables are in awful?
Two.
How do we divide awful into syllables?
aw-ful.
What is a stressed syllable in awful?
The first syllable, "aw."
What is another term for awful?
Terrible.
Is awful an abstract noun?
No.
Is awful a countable noun?
No, it's an adjective.
What part of speech is awful?
Adjective.
Which article is used with awful?
Both "a" and "the" can be used, but "an" is common due to the vowel sound (e.g., "an awful").
Is awful a vowel or consonant?
"Awful" is a word containing both vowels and consonants.
Is the word awful a Gerund?
No.
What is the first form of awful?
Awful (it's an adjective, so it doesn't have verb forms).
What is the third form of awful?
"awful" does not have a "third form".
Is the awful term a metaphor?
No, but it can be used metaphorically.
Is the word awful imperative?
No.
Is the word “awful” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
Neither, it's an adjective.
What is the opposite of awful?
Wonderful.
What is the second form of awful?
The word "awful" is an adjective and does not have verb forms.
How is awful used in a sentence?
"The movie was so awful that I left halfway through."
Is awful a collective noun?
No.
Which determiner is used with awful?
Can be "this," "that," "such," etc., depending on context.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
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Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
