awfully confident

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "awfully confident" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is excessively or surprisingly confident, often in a way that may seem inappropriate or unwarranted. Example: "Despite the lack of evidence, she was awfully confident in her predictions about the project's success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

"They're awfully confident," Mr. Rendell said.

The New York Times

"Verizon is awfully confident they won't have any problems," Mr. Moffett said.

The New York Times - Tech

I like to think that hipsterdom is post-race, because a black person has to be awfully confident to go to an indie-rock show, given the heat he may receive from his friends in the black community.

The New York Times

For a guy staring down the barrel of a very big gun, Jen-Hsun Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, seems awfully confident.

Forbes

Meanwhile, Om Malik seemed awfully confident when he reported earlier this week that Google Drive is poised to launch at some point during the first week of April, with Google offering their users only 1GB of free storage.

TechCrunch

And Team Kasich is sounding awfully confident these days.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

But given the massive discrepancy between the feds' numbers and their own, it's awfully hard for the public to feel confident about that.

Vice

If you think that you're no longer valued in the work world, it's an awfully big challenge to present yourself as a confident, can-do candidate.

Huffington Post

Awfully wrong".

The New York Times - Magazine

Awfully quick.

The New Yorker

Awfully good.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "awfully confident" to subtly express that someone's confidence might be excessive or misplaced, without being overly critical. It adds a nuanced layer of judgment to the description.

Common error

While "awfully confident" is acceptable, avoid overusing "awfully" in formal writing. Opt for more direct synonyms like "very" or "extremely" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "awfully confident" functions as an intensifier (awfully) modifying an adjective (confident). It describes the degree to which someone exhibits confidence. Ludwig AI confirms its usage is correct, as seen in the examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "awfully confident" is used to describe a notable degree of confidence, often with the subtle suggestion that it might be excessive or surprising. Ludwig AI confirms that this expression is grammatically sound. With a neutral register, it frequently appears in news and media sources. While alternatives like "very confident" or "extremely confident" exist, "awfully confident" carries a unique nuance. When writing, consider whether the slightly judgmental tone is appropriate for your intended message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely confident

Uses "extremely" instead of "awfully", indicating a high degree of confidence.

very confident

Uses "very" instead of "awfully", which is a more common and slightly less emphatic way to express confidence.

remarkably confident

Emphasizes the surprising nature of the confidence.

surprisingly confident

Highlights the unexpected nature of the confidence.

unusually confident

Indicates that the level of confidence is not typical.

overly confident

Suggests a negative connotation, implying the confidence is excessive.

unduly confident

Implies that the confidence is not justified or appropriate.

smugly confident

Adds a tone of self-satisfaction or arrogance to the confidence.

cockily confident

Conveys a sense of arrogance and self-assuredness.

assuredly confident

Stresses the certainty and lack of doubt in the confidence.

FAQs

How can I use "awfully confident" in a sentence?

You can use "awfully confident" to describe someone who seems excessively sure of themselves. For example, "He was "awfully confident" about winning the game, despite his poor performance in practice."

What are some alternatives to saying "awfully confident"?

You can use alternatives like "extremely confident", "very confident", or "surprisingly confident" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "awfully confident" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "awfully confident" might be perceived as slightly informal. In formal contexts, consider using more direct alternatives such as "very confident" or "extremely confident".

What does it imply when someone is described as "awfully confident"?

Describing someone as "awfully confident" often suggests that their confidence might be excessive or unjustified. It can imply a subtle critique of their self-assuredness.