Dictionary Definition
direful adj : causing fear or dread or terror;
"the awful war"; "an awful risk"; "dire news"; "a career or
vengeance so direful that London was shocked"; "the dread presence
of the headmaster"; "polio is no longer the dreaded disease it once
was"; "a dreadful storm"; "a fearful howling"; "horrendous
explosions shook the city"; "a terrible curse" [syn: awful, dire, dread(a), dreaded, dreadful, fearful, fearsome, frightening, horrendous, horrific, terrible]
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Adjective
- inspiring fear; fearful, terrible
- portending disaster; portentous; ominous