1. Plural of dreadful; sensational or lurid stories, especially cheap novels or periodicals featuring crime, horror, or melodrama (chiefly historical).
Usage: archaic; chiefly British; often used attributively as 'penny dreadfuls'
2. Things that are dreadful or terrible; awful or frightening matters or situations.
Usage: informal; plural form used to refer to multiple dreadful things

Examples

• Victorian children eagerly read penny dreadfuls despite their parents' disapproval.
• The dreadfuls of war left lasting scars on the survivors.
• She collected old dreadfuls from the 19th century as historical curiosities.
• The dreadfuls that befell the town during the storm were documented in the local newspaper.
• He dismissed the sensational dreadfuls as mere entertainment for the masses.
• The museum exhibit featured original penny dreadfuls alongside other period publications.