dreadfully

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'dreadfully' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something as being particularly terrible or unpleasant. For example, "I felt dreadfully guilty for hurting her feelings".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Caroline, on email "It would have made a dreadfully ugly child; but it makes rather a handsome pig, I think".

The Guardian

Although it can always be hard to perceive things clearly in family settings, there is something dreadfully direct about such a rule against seeing.

The Guardian - Books

Their political representatives go further, claiming to be dreadfully marginalised, which helps them secure fat subsidies for their ferries.

The Economist

He pointed to the fact that political decisions might be taken in the centre, in Delhi, but then they had to be implemented by states (too many of which are dreadfully badly run).

The Economist

And though some bits of the economy (and in some countries most bits) may be doing dreadfully badly, the crisis is also a chance to hire newly available workers, find cheap premises and capture markets abandoned by others.

The Economist

But progress is uncertain.The new lotThe formation of a new government could go dreadfully wrong.

The Economist

SURRENDERS are tricky things—just ask the British, who sulked dreadfully after losing the American war of independence.

The Economist

Deleveraging is occuring dreadfully slowly in many rich countries.

The Economist

By Sunday evening the BJP had won in 162 seats out of a total of 200, to a dreadfully low tally of 21 for Congress.Next door in BJP-run Madhya Pradesh, the margin of victory was similarly hefty.

The Economist

Complaining how dreadfully hard she has always found it to put words on paper, Ms Bedford looks back on the desultory years of false starts and failures, of self-confessed hedonism, sloth and doubt.

The Economist

But by the late 1960s that legitimacy was waning, and the dictatorial side of the PRI was dreadfully on display in the massacre of some 300 students a few months before Mexico hosted the 1968 Olympic Games.The two authors chronicle the subsequent unravelling of the PRI.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dreadfully" to emphasize the severity of a negative situation or feeling. It adds a strong emotional tone, particularly useful in descriptive writing and narratives.

Common error

While "dreadfully" is a valid adverb, overuse in formal or professional writing can sound overly dramatic or informal. Opt for more neutral alternatives like "seriously", "severely", or "significantly" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "dreadfully" is to act as an adverb, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to intensify their meaning. As Ludwig AI indicates, it denotes a high degree of negativity or unpleasantness, enhancing the descriptive power of the words it modifies. The examples illustrate this function clearly.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Science

2%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "dreadfully" is a grammatically correct and frequently used adverb that intensifies negative qualities or situations. According to Ludwig AI, it's a reliable choice for writers aiming to add emphasis and emotional depth to their descriptions. While versatile, it's most commonly found in news and media contexts and should be used judiciously in formal writing to avoid sounding overly dramatic. Remember to consider context and audience when choosing "dreadfully" or exploring related alternatives such as "terribly" and "awfully".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

terribly

Direct synonym, implying a high degree of unpleasantness or poor quality.

awfully

Another synonym suggesting a severe or unpleasant condition.

horribly

Implies a shocking or appalling degree of negativity.

exceptionally badly

More descriptive, emphasizing the extreme degree of poorness.

extremely poorly

Highlights the substandard nature to a significant extent.

remarkably badly

Emphasizes how striking the poor quality is.

frightfully

Similar to "awfully" but with a hint of fear or alarm.

woefully

Highlights the sorrowful or regrettable nature of the situation.

deplorably

Indicates a shameful or disgraceful degree of negativity.

appallingly

Suggests something that causes great shock or dismay.

FAQs

How can I use "dreadfully" in a sentence?

"Dreadfully" is used to intensify an adjective or adverb, indicating a high degree of something unpleasant. For example, "The play was "dreadfully boring"" or "I behaved "dreadfully badly" at the party."

What can I say instead of "dreadfully"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "terribly", "awfully", "horribly", or "exceptionally badly" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to use "dreadfully" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "dreadfully" may come across as too informal or dramatic in some formal contexts. Consider using more neutral alternatives such as "severely" or "significantly" to maintain a professional tone.

What's the difference between "dreadfully" and "terribly"?

Both "dreadfully" and "terribly" are adverbs used to intensify negative adjectives or adverbs. They are largely interchangeable, although "dreadfully" can sometimes carry a slightly stronger emotional charge.