direful (
http://definr.com/direful)
adj : 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" [syn:
awful,
dire,
dread(a),
dreaded,
dreadful,
fearful,
fearsome,
frightening,
horrendous,
horrific,
terrible]