awfully tempting

USAGE SUMMARY

'awfully tempting' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is very alluring and hard to resist. For example: "The dessert menu looked awfully tempting, so I couldn't help but order one of everything!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

In this week's mini-mutiny of the generals against Donald Rumsfeld, it was awfully tempting to side with the generals.

The New York Times

It's awfully tempting for the McCain camp to revisit the possibility of tapping Meg Whitman, the former eBay C.E.O., Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, or Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska.

The New York Times

A whole new round of low, low lease rates, cash givebacks and free money in the form of zero-percent financing make buying a car awfully tempting these days.

Forbes

The lowest I've been able to find so far this morning ia $49 for a new Verizon customer on WireFly — still great compared to the $299 price tag the device launched with, but nabbing a Galaxy Nexus for a penny is awfully tempting.

TechCrunch

A person can come across awfully tempting in the beginning, but don't let first impressions fool you.

Huffington Post

But if government or other secular institutions can ensure these relationships for me, then sleeping in or grabbing a round of golf on Sunday morning become awfully tempting.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

"As the only superpower, America is awfully tempted to get its way by bullying and occasionally trying to zap people into line," Mr. Grant said.

The New York Times

"It looks so tempting.

The New Yorker

However tempting.

The Guardian - Opinion

The space was tempting.

The New York Times

ME: It's tempting.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "awfully tempting" to describe something that is very attractive or appealing, but consider the context and audience. While generally acceptable, "awfully" can sometimes sound slightly informal or old-fashioned. For a more formal tone, consider alternatives like "extremely tempting" or "very tempting".

Common error

While "awfully tempting" is perfectly acceptable in many situations, be mindful of overusing "awfully" in formal writing. Over-reliance on this adverb can make your writing sound less sophisticated. Strive for variety by incorporating other intensifiers, such as "exceptionally", "remarkably", or "incredibly".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "awfully tempting" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe something with a high degree of allure or appeal. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable expression. The examples provided by Ludwig show it used to describe various desirable things.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Wiki

23%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "awfully tempting" is a common and grammatically sound adjectival phrase used to describe something highly appealing or alluring. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. While primarily found in news and media, it also appears in Wiki articles and formal business contexts. When writing, it's essential to consider the audience and tone, opting for more sophisticated vocabulary in formal settings. Several alternative phrases, such as "immensely tempting" or "very tempting", can be used to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

immensely tempting

Emphasizes the degree of temptation, replacing "awfully" with a stronger intensifier.

extraordinarily tempting

Similar to "immensely tempting", this highlights the exceptional allure.

very tempting

A simpler, more direct way to express the idea of something being appealing.

highly alluring

Shifts the focus to the attractiveness of something, using "alluring" as a synonym for tempting.

incredibly appealing

Replaces "tempting" with "appealing" and "awfully" with "incredibly" to convey a similar sentiment.

irresistibly attractive

Highlights the irresistible nature of the temptation, focusing on attractiveness.

extremely enticing

Uses "enticing" as a synonym and "extremely" for emphasis, indicating a strong level of temptation.

seriously seductive

Implies the tempting nature is powerful and persuasive, using "seductive".

exceptionally inviting

Focuses on the inviting quality of something, making it hard to refuse.

remarkably desirable

Emphasizes how much someone might want something, indicating a high level of temptation.

FAQs

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

"Awfully tempting" describes something very appealing or hard to resist. For example, "The discounted price was awfully tempting, but I decided to wait."

What can I say instead of "awfully tempting"?

You can use alternatives like "immensely tempting", "very tempting", or "highly alluring" depending on the context.

Is "awfully tempting" formal or informal?

"Awfully tempting" is generally considered somewhat informal, although widely acceptable. In highly formal contexts, consider using more sophisticated alternatives like "exceptionally inviting" or "remarkably desirable".

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

"Awfully tempting" indicates a strong pull or desire, whereas "slightly tempting" suggests a minor inclination. The adverb "awfully" intensifies the adjective "tempting", indicating a much stronger allure than "slightly" would.