awfulizev.
/ˈɔːfᵿlʌɪz/, /ˈɔːfl̩ʌɪz/, U.S. /ˈɔfəˌlaɪz/, /ˈɑfəˌlaɪz/ 1. intransitive. To class as awful or terrible. rare.
ΚΠ
1931 Bookman Dec. 368/1 It should be understood that the present writer does not intend to Awfulize; that is to say he does not mediate a counter-attack upon publishers.
2. intransitive and transitive. To interpret a situation as having the worst possible outcome, especially habitually. Cf. catastrophize v. Additions.
ΚΠ
1974 S. G. Katz Effects Cognitive Emotional Educ. on Locus-of-control & Self-concept (Ph.D. diss., Hofstra Univ.) 4 When the individual ‘awfulizes or catastrophizes’ about reality, he is invariably setting up an unverifiable, unemperical [sic] hypothesis.
1988 J. Bradshaw Healing Shame that Binds ii. x. 197 Filtering is a way to magnify and ‘awfulize’ your thoughts.
1990 J. Bradshaw Homecoming i. 22 Fear addicts tend to catastrophize and awfulize.
2017 Washington Post (Nexis) 1 June t15 Our brains tend to awfulize and generalize every bad event in our parenting lives and not remember the good.
Derivatives
ˈawfulizer n.
ΚΠ
1980 Northwest Arkansas Times 13 Dec. 3/5 The awfulizer makes the worst of a situation and insures [sic] that this prophesy will come true.
2006 M. Olpin & M. Hesson Stress Managem. for Life (2007) vi. 85 The awfulizer predicts disaster and lives as if it is inevitable. Awfulizers spend much of their life feeling upset.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2019; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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