Awful vs Terrible

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

	Awful	Terrible
Meaning	Very bad or terrible.	Very bad or awful.
CEFR level	A2	A1
Part of speech	adjective	adjective
Usage notes	Use 'awful' to describe something that is really unpleasant or of poor quality. It's appropriate in most contexts, but can be less formal than 'terrible'. Avoid using it in overly formal writing.	Use 'terrible' when describing something that causes strong negative feelings, like bad events or poor quality. Avoid in formal writing; consider alternatives like 'dreadful' or 'atrocious.'

Frequently asked questions: Awful vs Terrible

What's the difference between "Awful" and "Terrible"?

"Awful" means: Very bad or terrible. "Terrible" means: Very bad or awful.

When should I use "Awful" and "Terrible"?

They can all be used in everyday English.

Are "Awful" and "Terrible" the same CEFR level?

"Awful" is at A2, "Terrible" is at A1 on the CEFR scale.