dreaded

dread  (drd)

v. dread·ed, dread·ing, dreads

v.tr.

1. To be in terror of.

2. To anticipate with alarm, distaste, or reluctance: dreaded the long drive home.

3. Archaic To hold in awe or reverence.

v.intr.

To be very afraid.

n.

1. Profound fear; terror.

2. Fearful or distasteful anticipation. See Synonyms at fear.

3. An object of fear, awe, or reverence.

4. Archaic Awe; reverence.

adj.

1. Causing terror or fear: a dread disease.

2. Inspiring awe: the dread presence of the headmaster.

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[Middle English dreden, short for adreden, from Old English adrdan, from ondrdan, to advise against, fear : ond-, and-, against; see un-² + rdan, to advise; see ar- in Indo-European roots.]

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

dreaded - 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" direful, dread, dreadful, fearsome, frightening, horrendous, terrible, awful, dire, horrific, fearful alarming - frightening because of an awareness of danger