AWFULLY

terribly, awfully, awful, frightfully

(adverb) used as intensifiers; “terribly interesting”; “I’m awful sorry”

terribly, atrociously, awfully, abominably, abysmally, rottenly

(adverb) in a terrible manner; “she sings terribly”

dreadfully, awfully, horribly

(adverb) of a dreadful kind; “there was a dreadfully bloody accident on the road this morning”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adverb

awfully (comparative more awfully, superlative most awfully)

Badly, terribly.

(not comparable) Very; exceedingly; extremely; excessively.

(archaic) In a manner inspiring awe.

(archaic) Reverently.

(obsolete) Fearfully.

Usage notes

• Adjectives to which "awfully" is often applied: good, hard, sad, nice, sorry, long, quiet, big, glad, familiar, well, difficult, tired, bad, hot, high, busy, pretty, small, cold, funny, expensive, fond, important, young, interesting, jolly, short, proud, clever, boring, strange, happy, lonely, stupid, strong, sick, pleased, old, hungry, afraid, silly.

Synonyms

• (very): very, extremely, terribly

Source: Wiktionary


Aw"ful*ly, adv.

1. In an awful manner; in a manner to fill with terror or awe; fearfully; reverently.

2. Very; excessively. [Slang]

AWFUL

Aw"ful, a.

1. Oppressing with fear or horror; appalling; terrible; as, an awful scene. "The hour of Nature's awful throes." Hemans.

2. Inspiring awe; filling with profound reverence, or with fear and admiration; fitted to inspire reverential fear; profoundly impressive. Heaven's awful Monarch. Milton.

3. Struck or filled with awe; terror-stricken. [Obs.] A weak and awful reverence for antiquity. I. Watts.

4. Worshipful; reverential; law-abiding. [Obs.] Thrust from the company of awful men. Shak.

5. Frightful; exceedingly bad; great; -- applied intensively; as, an awful bonnet; an awful boaster. [Slang]

Syn.

– See Frightful.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

6 June 2025

PUNGENCY

(noun) wit having a sharp and caustic quality; “he commented with typical pungency”; “the bite of satire”


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