Dread″ful (?), a. 1. Full of dread or terror; fearful. “With dreadful heart.” Chaucer.
2. Inspiring dread; impressing great fear; fearful; terrible; as, a dreadful storm. “ Dreadful gloom.” Milton.
For all things are less dreadful than they seem. Wordsworth.
3. Inspiring awe or reverence; awful. “God's dreadful law.” Shak.
Syn. — Fearful; frightful; terrific; terrible; horrible; horrid; formidable; tremendous; awful; venerable. See Frightful.