Cool MateAwful vs Pretty goddamn bad
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Awful
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
Pretty goddamn bad
SlangBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: AwfulMost common: Awful
| Awful | Pretty goddamn bad | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈɔːfl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɔːfl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈprɪti ˈɡɒd.dæm bæd//🇺🇸 //ˈprɪti ˈɡɑːd.dæm bæd// |
| Meaning | Very bad or terrible. | Very bad in a strong and informal way. |
| Example | The weather was awful, and we decided to stay indoors. | The movie was pretty goddamn bad, I couldn't sit through it. |
| Register | Neutral | Slang |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, feel, look, just, quite, really | pretty goddamn bad situation, pretty goddamn bad decision, pretty goddamn bad news |
| 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. | Misused in formal writing or speeches., Capitalization errors in 'goddamn'., Confused with 'pretty bad' which is less intense. |
| 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 in casual conversations to emphasize how terrible something is; not suitable for formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Awful vs Pretty goddamn bad
What's the difference between Awful and Pretty goddamn bad?
Awful: Very bad or terrible. Pretty goddamn bad: Very bad in a strong and informal way.
Which is more formal: Awful and Pretty goddamn bad?
Awful is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Awful and Pretty goddamn bad?
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. Pretty goddamn bad: The movie was pretty goddamn bad, I couldn't sit through it.
Can I use Awful and Pretty goddamn bad interchangeably?
Not always. Awful and Pretty goddamn bad 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.