A dreadful war vs A horrible war

Both 'a dreadful war' and 'a horrible war' are correct phrases that can be used interchangeably to describe a war that is causing great fear, suffering, or distress. There is no significant difference in meaning between the two phrases.

Last updated: March 22, 2024 • 1276 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to describe a war that is causing great fear, suffering, or distress.

"A dreadful war"

This phrase is used to emphasize the severity and negative impact of a war. It conveys a sense of dread, fear, and horror associated with the conflict.

Examples:

The country was devastated by a dreadful war that lasted for years.
The soldiers returned home traumatized by the dreadful war they had experienced.
The world was shocked by the news of a dreadful war breaking out in the region.
The civilians were caught in the crossfire of a dreadful war between the two nations.
The documentary depicted the horrors of a dreadful war through firsthand accounts.

Alternatives:

a terrible war
an awful war
a devastating war
a catastrophic war
a harrowing war

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to describe a war that is causing great fear, suffering, or distress.

"A horrible war"

This phrase is used to emphasize the extreme negative aspects of a war, highlighting the horror and terror associated with it.

Examples:

The refugees fled their homeland to escape a horrible war.
The world was aghast at the atrocities committed during the horrible war.
The soldiers were haunted by the memories of the horrible war they had fought in.
The civilians lived in constant fear during the horrible war that ravaged their city.
The journalists reported on the brutalities of a horrible war unfolding in the region.

Show examples from the web [+]

Sir, that was a horrible war.
If that is not the case, it is just a fight against the desperate; it is a horrible war against illegal immigrants, which we cannot win.
Home rule will be resisted by Ulster, and the Tory leadership, and there will be a horrible civil war, that is obvious.
Because this war is the ultimate war a horrible thing.
You know, a very destructive, horrible horrible war.
Because Linton is not going to call it the "Big Horrible War Committee".
All I can hope is, an incredible disasters like Katrina, and the horrible wars comes out and what not, that are going on around the world will snap us out of it.
The question of the future of Kosovo is part of the aftermath of the horrible wars in the Balkans.
The situation in particular in Byelorussia has deteriorated dramatically and there have been the most horrible civil wars and massacres on a massive scale in the Balkans.
Cluster munitions to me are one of the most horrible ways of waging war which should always, of course, only occur as a very last resort.
Sierra Leone seems to have put its horrible civil war behind it.
He saw horrible things in that war.
Rather than die such a horrible death, he should have died at war.
He was a good son, a war veteran, a husband, a man taken from his family in a horrible, unnecessary way.
A horrible, painful, slow...
Luke didn have a horrible time.
My friend Margaret Ravenscroft died a horrible death.
A horrible, thoughtless, insensitive mistake.
The camp seems like a horrible place.
You sound like a horrible performance of Oliver.

Alternatives:

a dreadful war
a terrifying war
an appalling war
a nightmarish war
a chilling war

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A dreadful war vs A horrible war

"A dreadful war"

"A horrible war"

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