awfully similar

USAGE SUMMARY

"awfully similar" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means extremely or excessively similar. Example: The two paintings were awfully similar, with the same style, color scheme, and subject matter. It was almost impossible to tell them apart.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

"She and Kim are awfully similar".

The Guardian - Sport

Each was personal and unique and yet awfully similar.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"Those races, they looked awfully similar," said Michael Matz, the trainer of both horses.

The New York Times - Sports

That sounds awfully similar to what the Rangers were saying after the first two games.

The New York Times

In Kelly's eyes, Jesus looked and sounded awfully similar to John Brown.

The New York Times

Houyhnhnms are, you'll recall, essentially horses, who are served by creatures awfully similar to humans, called Yahoos.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

To me, it sounds awfully reminiscent of Condoleezza Rice's similar and carefully worded statement made last year that "I don't think anybody could have predicted that these people would take an airplane and slam it into the World Trade Center, take another one and slam it into the Pentagon, that they would try to use an airplane as a missile".

The New York Times

And like, awfully painful.

Vice

I had similar feelings reading Cormac McCarthy's awful (and I do not mean awfully written) "The Road".

The New Yorker

Awfully wrong".

The New York Times - Magazine

Awfully quick.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "awfully similar" to subtly imply a negative judgment about the lack of originality or distinctiveness. For example, "The sequel's plot was awfully similar to the original, leaving viewers disappointed."

Common error

Avoid using "awfully similar" repeatedly in close proximity within your writing. This can make your prose sound monotonous. Vary your language by using synonyms such as "remarkably alike" or "strikingly similar".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "awfully similar" primarily functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun to indicate a high degree of similarity. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread usage. Examples show it describing resemblances between objects, ideas, and even behaviors.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "awfully similar" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adjectival phrase that serves to express a significant degree of resemblance between two or more entities. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and prevalence across diverse contexts. While slightly informal due to the intensifier "awfully", it is suitable for various communication registers. Ludwig's analysis of usage patterns reveals its frequent occurrence in news and media, but also in science and more informal contexts such as wikis, conveying a broad utility for describing likeness while occasionally implying a negative judgment or lack of originality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely alike

Replaces "awfully" with "extremely" and "similar" with "alike", focusing on the high degree of resemblance.

strikingly similar

Emphasizes the noticeable and remarkable similarity between two or more things.

remarkably alike

Highlights the noteworthiness of the similarity, using "alike" as an alternative to "similar".

virtually identical

Indicates that the items are so similar they are almost indistinguishable.

nearly identical

Conveys that the items are almost exactly the same.

very much the same

Uses a more general expression to indicate strong similarity or near identity.

closely resemble

Focuses on the visual similarity between things.

bear a strong resemblance

A more formal way of saying that things look very much alike.

have a great deal in common

Indicates that two or more things share many characteristics or features.

quite comparable

Suggests that two or more things can be favorably compared because they are similar.

FAQs

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

You can use "awfully similar" to describe two things that have a lot of characteristics in common, often with a slight implication of something negative or unoriginal. Example: "The two designs were "awfully similar", raising concerns about plagiarism."

What can I say instead of "awfully similar"?

You can use alternatives like "extremely alike", "strikingly similar", or "virtually identical" depending on the context.

Is "awfully similar" formal or informal?

"Awfully similar" is generally considered informal due to the use of "awfully" as an intensifier. More formal alternatives might include "remarkably similar" or "closely analogous".

What's the difference between "awfully similar" and "slightly similar"?

"Awfully similar" implies a strong degree of resemblance, almost to the point of being identical, whereas "slightly similar" suggests only a minor degree of likeness.