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Grotesque vs Awful - What's the difference?

grotesque | awful | Related terms |

Grotesque is a related term of awful.


As adjectives the difference between grotesque and awful

is that grotesque is distorted and unnatural in shape or size; abnormal and hideous while awful is oppressing with fear or horror; appalling, terrible.

As a noun grotesque

is a style of ornamentation characterized by fanciful combinations of intertwined forms.

As an adverb awful is

(colloquial) very, extremely; as, an awful big house.

grotesque

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • distorted and unnatural in shape or size; abnormal and hideous
  • disgusting or otherwise viscerally reviling.
  • (typography) sans serif.
  • Derived terms

    * (l) * (l)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A style of ornamentation characterized by fanciful combinations of intertwined forms.
  • Anything grotesque.
  • (typography) A sans serif typeface.
  • awful

    English

    Alternative forms

    * awfull (archaic)

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • Oppressing with fear or horror; appalling, terrible.
  • Inspiring awe; filling with profound reverence or respect; profoundly impressive.
  • *, I.56:
  • God ought not to be commixed in our actions, but with awful reverence, and an attention full of honour and respect.
  • * 1819 , Lord Byron, Don Juan , II.143:
  • And then she stopped, and stood as if in awe / (For sleep is awful ).
  • Struck or filled with awe.
  • (obsolete) Terror-stricken.
  • Worshipful; reverential; law-abiding.
  • Exceedingly great; usually applied intensively.
  • an awful bonnet
    I have learnt an awful amount today.
  • Very bad.
  • My socks smell awful .

    Usage notes

    * Nouns to which "awful" is often applied: day, truth, time, place, moment, mess, night, news, state, situation, smell, thought, person, pain, movie, consequence, crime, fate, death, tragedy, man, event, disease, story, condition, mistake, taste, picture, year, calamity, doom, film, catastrophe, secret, performance, storm, end, week, shape, choice.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Adverb

    (-)
  • (colloquial) Very, extremely; as, an awful big house.
  • See also

    * awfully.