Awfully: meaning, definitions and examples

This word is often used to emphasize something in a conversational or informal context. It can be positive or negative.

• He's awfully nice to everyone.
• I'm awfully tired after the workout.

This is quite versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts to emphasize something bad or sometimes even something good.

• The exam was terribly difficult.
• I miss you terribly.

This has a slightly more formal tone and often implies a very negative situation.

• The weather was dreadfully cold yesterday.
• She felt dreadfully guilty about the mistake.

This conveys a strong negative emotion and is often used to describe something that is very bad or unpleasant.

• The food tasted horribly bad.
• She was horribly upset by the news.

Utilized in an informal context, often to emphasize a negative quality or to express a strong degree of something. It can sometimes carry a slight exaggeration.

• This food tastes awfully bitter.
• I'm awfully tired after that long trip.

Commonly used in both formal and informal settings to describe something very bad or severe. It can be about a situation, feeling, or quality.

• The traffic this morning was terrible.
• I felt terrible about forgetting her birthday.

Used to describe something extremely unpleasant or bad, often connected to causing disgust or fear. It has a very strong negative connotation.

• The smell coming from the old fridge was horrible.
• He said some horrible things during the argument.

Best suited for more formal situations. It describes something really bad or causing fear or distress. It tends to have a slightly stronger negative connotation than 'awful'.

• She had a dreadful headache all day.
• The news about the accident was absolutely dreadful.