dreaded

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/ˈdɹɛ.dɪd//ˈdɹɛ.dəd/

adjective

Causing fear, dread, or terror.

“I have got the dreaded flu.”

Similar
dreadawfuldiredirefuldreadfulfearfulfearsomefrightening
Less commonScrabble 10
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Meanings

adjectivedreaded (comparative more dreaded, superlative most dreaded)

comparative more dreaded · superlative most dreaded

  1. Causing fear, dread, or terror.

    I have got the dreaded flu.

    1 more example

    Young and old a dreaded lot/In knots our rivals tied.

    1962, Frank Agarno, “The Gallant Chess Nuts from Jersey City 'Y'”, Chess Review, published in the September issue that year as the first known team spirit song for a chess club

    Synonyms: dread

  2. Having or wearing dreadlocks.
verb
  1. participlepastsimple past and past participle of dread

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveCausing fear, dread, or terror.

Similar
dread

More synonyms by meaning

adjectivecausing fear or dread or terror

Similar
awfuldiredirefuldreaddreadfulfearfulfearsomefrighteninghorrendoushorrificterriblealarming
Also see
awfuldiredirefuldreaddreadabledreadfulfearedfearfulfearsomefrighteninghorrendoushorrificterrible

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Czech hrozný, strašný
  • hroznýCausing fear, dread or terror
  • strašnýCausing fear, dread or terror
  • děsivýCausing fear, dread or terror
Dutch verafschuwd, gevreesd
  • verafschuwdCausing fear, dread or terror
  • gevreesdCausing fear, dread or terror
Esperanto timeginda
  • timegindaCausing fear, dread or terror
Finnish pelottava, kammottava
  • pelottavaCausing fear, dread or terror
  • kammottavaCausing fear, dread or terror
  • kamalaCausing fear, dread or terror
French redoutable
  • redoutableCausing fear, dread or terror
German gefürchtet
  • gefürchtetCausing fear, dread or terror
Italian temuto
  • temutoCausing fear, dread or terror
Polish straszny
  • strasznyCausing fear, dread or terror
Spanish con rastas
  • con rastasdreadlocks
Turkish korkunç, ürkütücü
  • korkunçCausing fear, dread or terror
  • ürkütücüCausing fear, dread or terror

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with dreaded

headedleadedbedded
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

dreaded. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dreaded

MLA

“dreaded.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dreaded. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dreaded,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dreaded.

Source: dreaded on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.