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Awful vs Monstrous - What's the difference?

awful | monstrous | Synonyms |

Awful is a synonym of monstrous.


In obsolete|lang=en terms the difference between awful and monstrous

is that awful is (obsolete) terror-stricken while monstrous is (obsolete) marvellous; strange.

As adjectives the difference between awful and monstrous

is that awful is oppressing with fear or horror; appalling, terrible while monstrous is hideous or frightful.

As an adverb awful

is (colloquial) very, extremely; as, an awful big house.

awful

English

Alternative forms

* awfull (archaic)

Adjective

(en-adj)
  • Oppressing with fear or horror; appalling, terrible.
  • Inspiring awe; filling with profound reverence or respect; profoundly impressive.
  • *, I.56:
  • God ought not to be commixed in our actions, but with awful reverence, and an attention full of honour and respect.
  • * 1819 , Lord Byron, Don Juan , II.143:
  • And then she stopped, and stood as if in awe / (For sleep is awful ).
  • Struck or filled with awe.
  • (obsolete) Terror-stricken.
  • Worshipful; reverential; law-abiding.
  • Exceedingly great; usually applied intensively.
  • an awful bonnet
    I have learnt an awful amount today.
  • Very bad.
  • My socks smell awful .

    Usage notes

    * Nouns to which "awful" is often applied: day, truth, time, place, moment, mess, night, news, state, situation, smell, thought, person, pain, movie, consequence, crime, fate, death, tragedy, man, event, disease, story, condition, mistake, taste, picture, year, calamity, doom, film, catastrophe, secret, performance, storm, end, week, shape, choice.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Adverb

    (-)
  • (colloquial) Very, extremely; as, an awful big house.
  • See also

    * awfully.

    monstrous

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • hideous or frightful
  • * Shakespeare
  • So bad a death argues a monstrous life.
  • enormously large
  • a monstrous height
    a monstrous ox
  • freakish or grotesque
  • * John Locke
  • a monstrous birth
  • * Jeremy Taylor
  • He, therefore, that refuses to do good to them whom he is bound to love is unnatural and monstrous in his affections.
  • of, or relating to a mythical monster; full of monsters
  • * Milton
  • Where thou, perhaps, under the whelming tide / Visitest the bottom of the monstrous world.
  • (obsolete) marvellous; strange
  • Synonyms

    * See also