Cool MateAwful vs I was terrible at those puzzles
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Awful
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
I was terrible at those puzzles
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Awful
| Awful | I was terrible at those puzzles | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈɔːfl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɔːfl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //aɪ wəz ˈtɛrɪbəl æt ðoʊz ˈpʌzəlz//🇺🇸 //aɪ wəz ˈtɛrɪbəl æt ðoʊz ˈpʌzəlz// |
| Meaning | Very bad or terrible. | I was not good at solving those puzzles. |
| Example | The weather was awful, and we decided to stay indoors. | I was terrible at those puzzles, and I always gave up halfway through. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, feel, look, just, quite, really | be terrible at something, feel terrible at puzzles, struggle with puzzles, be good at puzzles, be bad at something |
| Antonyms | wonderful, fantastic, excellent | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'awesome' — 'awful' means bad, while 'awesome' means great., Using 'awful' for very small issues, when a less strong word would fit better., Overusing 'awful' in formal contexts where a different adjective might be more appropriate. | Incorrectly using 'bad' instead of 'terrible' as an adjective., Confusing 'at' with 'in' when describing skill., Using present tense instead of past tense for completed experiences. |
| 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. | Used to express inability or lack of skill in a particular area. Suitable for conversations about hobbies or challenges. Avoid in overly formal contexts. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Awful vs I was terrible at those puzzles
What's the difference between Awful and I was terrible at those puzzles?
Awful: Very bad or terrible. I was terrible at those puzzles: I was not good at solving those puzzles.
Which is more common: Awful and I was terrible at those puzzles?
Awful is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Awful: The weather was awful, and we decided to stay indoors. I was terrible at those puzzles: I was terrible at those puzzles, and I always gave up halfway through.
Can I use Awful and I was terrible at those puzzles interchangeably?
Not always. Awful and I was terrible at those puzzles are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.