noun

awfulness

awfulness, terribleness, dreadfulness

The awfulness of the situation was clear.

The awfulness of the situation was clear.

I was struck by the awfulness of the film.

I was struck by the awfulness of the film.

the awfulness of ((sth.)) the terrible quality of (sth.) The awfulness of the crime was shocking.

Synonyms: terribleness, dreadfulness, horror, unpleasantness; Antonyms: wonderfulness, pleasantness

From 'awful' + '-ness' (a suffix forming nouns of state or quality). 'Awful' itself comes from 'awe' + '-ful'.

Remember that '-ness' turns an adjective ('awful') into a noun representing the quality of being that adjective.

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