What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Worst vs Awful - What's the difference?

worst | awful |

As adjectives the difference between worst and awful

is that worst is (bad) while awful is oppressing with fear or horror; appalling, terrible.

As adverbs the difference between worst and awful

is that worst is in the worst way: most badly, most ill while awful is (colloquial) very, extremely; as, an awful big house.

As a noun worst

is something or someone that is the worst.

As a verb worst

is (archaic|transitive) to make worse.

worst

English

Adjective

(head)
  • (bad)
  • # Most inferior; doing the least good.
  • I think putting oil on a burn is the worst thing you can do.
  • # Most unfavorable.
  • That's the worst news I've had all day.
  • # Most harmful or severe.
  • The worst storm we had last winter knocked down our power lines.
  • # Most ill.
  • I'm feeling really ill — the worst I've felt all week.
  • # (Used with the definite article and an implied noun): something that is worst.
  • None of these photographs of me are good, but this one is definitely the worst .
  • Synonyms

    * (most ill) (nonstandard)

    Antonyms

    * best

    Derived terms

    * worstness * fear the worst * turn for the worst

    Noun

    (head)
  • something or someone that is the worst
  • (Something that is worst) * French: * Khmer: * Polish: (trans-mid) * Portuguese: (trans-bottom)

    Adverb

    (head)
  • In the worst way: most badly, most ill.
  • My sore leg hurts worst when it's cold and rainy.
    This is the worst -written essay I've ever seen.
    She's the worst -informed of the lot.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (archaic) To make worse.
  • (dated) To grow worse; to deteriorate.
  • * (rfdate) Jane Austen:
  • Anne haggard, Mary coarse, every face in the neighbourhood worsting .
  • (rare) To outdo or defeat, especially in battle.
  • * South
  • The Philistines were worsted by the captivated ark.

    Anagrams

    * 1000 English basic words ----

    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.