1. 
[syn: awful, dire, direful, dread(a), dreaded, dreadful, fearful, fearsome, frightening, horrendous, horrific, terrible]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Dread \Dread\ (dr[e^]d), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dreaded; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Dreading.] [AS. dr[=ae]dan, in comp.; akin to OS.
   dr[=a]dan, OHG. tr[=a]tan, both only in comp.]
   To fear in a great degree; to regard, or look forward to,
   with terrific apprehension.
   [1913 Webster]
         When at length the moment dreaded through so many years
         came close, the dark cloud passed away from Johnson's
         mind.                                    --Macaulay.
   [1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
dreaded
    adj 1: 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, direful, dread(a),
           dreaded, dreadful, fearful, fearsome,
           frightening, horrendous, horrific, terrible]