a career or vengeance so direful that London was shocked.
a desperate illness.
a dire emergency.
a dreadful storm.
a fearful howling.
a terrible curse.
an awful risk.
dire news.
horrendous explosions shook the city.
on all fronts the Allies were in a desperate situation due to lack of materiel.
polio is no longer the dreaded disease it once was.
the awful war.
the dread presence of the headmaster.