Scarily: meaning, definitions and examples

Used for something that is surprisingly or unexpectedly causing fear or concern in a way that is not overly intense. It can be used to describe subtle but still noticeable fear.

• He can drive scarily fast
• It's scarily quiet in the office today

Used when something induces a strong sense of fear or dread, often emphasizing the degree to which something causes fear.

• She is frighteningly efficient
• The storm grew frighteningly quickly

Employed in situations where the fear is intense and overwhelming, often used for extreme scenarios or to emphasize the dramatic extent of fear.

• The experience was terrifyingly real
• He stared at the terrifyingly high cliff

Applied when something causes sudden worry or fear, often because it represents a significant change or potential danger.

• The temperature is rising alarmingly
• His health has deteriorated alarmingly since last week

Use 'scarily' when describing something that is frightening or unsettling to an unusual extent. Often used to emphasize the extent of fear or concern caused by a situation.

• The storm grew scarily powerful overnight.
• He was scarily good at mimicking voices.

Use 'extremely' to emphasize the highest degree of an adjective or adverb. Suitable for formal and informal contexts to denote something far beyond average.

• She was extremely happy with her new job.
• The test was extremely difficult.

Use 'very' as an intensifier to increase the force of adjectives or adverbs. Can be used in both formal and informal language, covering a broad range of contexts.

• It's a very interesting book.
• She runs very fast.

Use 'highly' to express a strong degree of a particular quality, often in a positive sense. Frequently used in formal contexts to commend or emphasize the importance of something.

• The movie was highly recommended by critics.
• She is a highly skilled musician.