Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

awfulness

/ˈɔfəlnəs/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.22 in modern English

Syllables: aw-ful-ness
IPA: /ˈɔfəlnəs/

15

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The state or quality of being awful.

Uncountable

noun

The quality of striking with awe, or with reverence

Uncountable

noun

The state of being struck with awe; a spirit of solemnity; profound reverence.

Uncountable

Example Sentences

"Out came old Teenie, buzzing mad as a whole nest of wasps. Muttered awfulnesses came from her great padded bonnet."
""Why is the awfulness of families such a popular reason for starting another?""
"[…] the knocking at the gate, which succeeds to the murder of Duncan, produced to my feelings an effect for which I could never account: the effect was—that it reflected back upon the murder a peculiar awfulness and a depth of solemnity […]"
"It is only when actually gazing on an active volcano that one can fully realize its awfulness and grandeur. Whence comes that inexhaustible fire whose dense and sulphurous smoke forever issues from this bare and desolate peak?"
"the awfulness of this sacred place"

Etymology

From Middle English aghfulnesse, equivalent to awful + -ness.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: aghfulnesse

Usage

Uncountable

Inflected Forms

awfulnesses (plural)

Synonyms

dreadfulness solemnity horridness terribleness

Questions

How do you pronounce awfulness?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈɔfəlnəs/.
What does awfulness mean?: The state or quality of being awful.
Where does awfulness come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce awfulness

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “awfulness”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈɔfəlnəs/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “awfulness”.
Repeat and practice — Say “awfulness” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.