awfully rich

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "awfully rich" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is very wealthy, often with a connotation of excess or moral ambiguity. Example: "The billionaire's lifestyle was awfully rich, filled with extravagant parties and luxury cars."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The stew gets awfully rich.

The New York Times - Books

A snow day would be awfully rich right now".

The New Yorker

Endive salad, a graceful leaf sculpture on a pedestal of apple compote and Roquefort cheese, looked and tasted wonderful but seemed awfully rich for an appetizer.

The New York Times

That "Hail Mary" line is awfully rich coming from a guy whose team is planning to start Rex Grossman at quarterback in the coming season.

Huffington Post

The one redeeming element to his biography is that King has occasionally called out some of the loons in his own party for their ideological extremism which is awfully rich coming from him.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Novelistic, rich and awfully silly, London Fields – like Ben Wheatley's take on High Rise - is a long-awaited adaptation of a popular and gloomily prophetic book, that seems unnecessary.

The Guardian - Film

But lest we forget, New York has a strong summer Shakespeare tradition too, and our homegrown festival in Central Park -- SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK -- has counterprogrammed two shows in repertory that may not be as well known, but are still awfully interesting and talent rich.

The New York Times

Barry, who died in 1949, was awfully good at showing that, contrary to Fitzgerald's famous axiom, the rich don't have to be different from you and me.

The New York Times

He noted that Westchester "is one of the nation's richest counties, so you would think that all that money could buy an awfully good way of life".

The New York Times

It is one of the nation's richest counties, so you would think that all that money could buy an awfully good way of life.

The New York Times

With the divide between the glamorous rich and those who serve them (many of them immigrants) bigger than ever, they are words that sound awfully current.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "awfully rich" to describe situations where wealth is excessive or has a slightly negative implication, such as extravagance or moral compromise.

Common error

Avoid using "awfully rich" in highly formal or business settings. Opt for more neutral alternatives like "very wealthy" or "extremely affluent" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "awfully rich" functions as an adverb-adjective combination that modifies a noun, indicating a high degree of wealth or opulence. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "awfully rich" is a grammatically sound and usable expression used to describe extreme wealth, often with an overtone of excess or extravagance. While deemed correct by Ludwig AI, its usage is relatively rare. Its primary function is descriptive, communicating wealth with intensity in a neutral to informal register, mainly found in News & Media. When writing, consider using "awfully rich" to emphasize the magnitude of wealth or imply associated negative connotations, but be mindful of the formality of your context. Alternatives such as "extremely wealthy" or "incredibly affluent" may be more suitable in formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely wealthy

Replaces "awfully" with "extremely" focusing directly on the wealth.

exceedingly rich

Uses "exceedingly" to intensify the degree of wealth.

incredibly affluent

Uses "incredibly" and "affluent" to emphasize wealth and status.

very wealthy

A straightforward substitute using "very" instead of "awfully".

filthy rich

An informal idiom emphasizing extreme wealth, sometimes with a negative connotation.

fabulously wealthy

Emphasizes the luxurious aspect of being rich.

stinking rich

Similar to "filthy rich" but slightly more emphatic.

immensely prosperous

Highlights the success and financial well-being aspect.

loaded with money

Informal expression indicating a person has a lot of money.

rolling in it

An idiom for having a lot of money.

FAQs

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

You can use "awfully rich" to describe someone or something characterized by extreme wealth, often with a connotation of excess. For example, "The endive salad seemed "awfully rich" for an appetizer".

What phrases are similar to "awfully rich"?

Alternatives to "awfully rich" include "extremely wealthy", "incredibly affluent", or even idioms like "filthy rich" depending on the context and tone.

When is it appropriate to use the term "awfully rich"?

"Awfully rich" is appropriate when you want to emphasize the excess or opulence associated with wealth, sometimes implying a negative aspect. It's less formal than simply saying "very wealthy".

Is there a difference between "awfully rich" and "very rich"?

While both describe someone with significant wealth, "awfully rich" suggests a higher degree of intensity or excess compared to "very rich". "Awfully" adds an element of remarkableness or even disapproval.