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.