Collocations for "dreadful"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "dreadful" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2025
dreadful
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.adj
- UK: a dreadful [person, child, man, woman, husband]
- that is dreadful to hear!
- it was dreadful to [see, watch]
- it is dreadful to [think, imagine]
- it is dreadful that you had to [see, experience] that
- that is a dreadful thing to [hear, see, think]
- you are a dreadful [man]
- that's (just) dreadful!
- that is dreadful news!
- what a dreadful place!
- what a dreadful [noise, racket, din]!
- what happened to you is dreadful!
- am having a dreadful day
- dreadful weather (conditions)
- suffers from a dreadful disease
- will suffer a dreadful [fate, death]
- could [lead to, bring about, mean] dreadful consequences
- the [house, patient, company] is in a dreadful state
- is a dreadful situation
- was a dreadful [concert, performance, display, game]
- had a dreadful time [on vacation, at the party]
- her [fashion, music] tastes are dreadful
- the [meal, food, service] was dreadful!
- don't want to [remember, think about] what happened on that dreadful [day, night]
- dreadful and [terrible, horrible, dangerous]
'dreadful' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):