épouvantable

dreadful, appalling

adjective eh-poo-vahn-TAH-bluh Less Common

Usage Note

Épouvantable conveys something causing horror or revulsion, stronger than mauvais (bad) but often used colloquially for mere annoyance (une météo épouvantable — dreadful weather). The related noun l'épouvante means 'terror' or 'horror' (un film d'épouvante = a horror film). The adverb form épouvantablement is also in common use.

Examples

"Il faisait un temps épouvantable ce soir-là."

Natural Translation

The weather was dreadful that evening.

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