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Terribly - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Terribly is an adverb meaning extremely or very, often used to emphasize negative qualities (e.g., terribly sad) or, informally, to mean very badly (e.g., He sang terribly). It can also express great extent in a neutral context (e.g., terribly excited).

terribly

/ˈtɛrəbli/ /ˈtɛrɪbli/

Definition:

Extremely or severely; very badly or unpleasantly.

Synonyms:

awfully, dreadfully, extremely, horribly

Part of Speech:

adverb

Antonyms:

slightly, mildly, moderately

Common Collocations:

terribly sorry, terribly wrong, terribly upset, terribly afraid

Derivatives:

terrible, terribleness

Usage Tips:

Use "terribly" to emphasize extreme degrees of negativity or intensity in informal contexts.

Common Phrases:

terribly sorry, feel terribly about it, terribly wrong

Etymology:

Derived from Middle English "terrible," from Latin "terribilis," meaning causing fear or dread.

Examples:

  • 1. She was terribly upset about the news.
  • 2. The weather turned terribly cold overnight.
  • 3. He apologized terribly for his mistake.
  • 4. I feel terribly about forgetting your birthday.

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