Dread"ful (?), a.
1.
Full of dread or terror; fearful.
[Obs.] "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.
[Obs.] "God's
dreadful law."
Shak.
Syn. -- Fearful; frightful; terrific; terrible; horrible; horrid; formidable; tremendous; awful; venerable. See Frightful.
© Webster 1913.