grow terribly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grow terribly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is increasing or developing in a negative or undesirable way. Example: "The weeds in the garden began to grow terribly, overtaking the flowers and plants we had carefully nurtured."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Its message of can-do individualism urges us to beat the odds, but it cuts us no slack when the odds grow terribly long.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Rather, they rely almost entirely on I.E.D.'s — and at this they have grown terribly adept.

The New York Times - Magazine

If you have to stop and wonder about Pistorius, how do you ratchet up that level of wonder again, no matter how many times NBC tells you to? We've grown terribly used to so many of the eye-rollers that litter the rest of the news: The N.H.L. locked out its players and treated its fans like disposable assets, and yet raised its ticket prices more than any other league last year?

The New York Times - Sports

I grew terribly lonely, and did what many inmates do: I spent most of my time pursuing my education and reading all the books I could get my hands on.

Vice

You can have two children grow up in terribly abusive homes, and one will suffer for life while the other will work through it and get past it.

Huffington Post

The two boys become friends and do many things together; Matt seems terribly grown up and mature, but is obviously terribly lonely.

The New Yorker

It didn't amount to much, but Slimane didn't come out looking terribly grown-up.

The New York Times

Mademoiselle bonus: feeling terribly grown up, with a splash of Vanessa Paradis sexiness.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It's no surprise he grew up a terribly pious little boy.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's not a DIY job, either - in fact, the couple were terribly grown-up and hired an architect.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I didn't need my new pen, but it felt terribly grown up to own one, and it made my dreadful handwriting look slightly more sophisticated.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "grow terribly", ensure the context clearly indicates what is growing in a negative or undesirable way. For instance, "The problems began to grow terribly after the new management took over."

Common error

Avoid using "terribly" too frequently in your writing as a general intensifier. Overuse can weaken its impact. Reserve it for situations where the severity genuinely warrants its use. For example, instead of saying "I miss you terribly", consider other options that might better capture the nuance of your emotion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grow terribly" primarily functions as a verb phrase where "grow" is the main verb and "terribly" is an adverb modifying it. It describes the manner in which something increases or develops, emphasizing the negative or undesirable aspect of that growth. According to Ludwig AI, this is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "grow terribly" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe something increasing or developing in a significantly negative or undesirable way. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While not extremely common, it's most frequently found in news and media contexts, conveying concern or alarm. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates what's growing negatively and avoid overusing "terribly" as a general intensifier to maintain its impact. Alternative phrases like "become significantly worse" or "increase alarmingly" can offer varied expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

become significantly worse

Replaces "grow" with "become" and uses a more formal adverb.

increase alarmingly

Substitutes "grow" with "increase" and uses a stronger adverb.

deteriorate rapidly

Emphasizes a quick decline rather than simple growth.

expand disastrously

Highlights the catastrophic nature of the growth.

escalate dramatically

Focuses on the sudden and large scale of the increase.

worsen substantially

Indicates a significant decline in quality or condition.

decline sharply

Emphasizes a steep decrease or degradation.

intensify severely

Highlights the increased intensity of a negative condition.

develop negatively

A more general way of expressing undesirable growth.

amplify aggressively

Emphasizes the forceful and rapid increase.

FAQs

How can I use "grow terribly" in a sentence?

Use "grow terribly" to describe something increasing or developing in a very negative way. For example, "The weeds in the garden began to "grow terribly", overtaking the flowers and plants we had carefully nurtured."

What are some alternatives to "grow terribly"?

You can use alternatives like "become significantly worse", "increase alarmingly", or "deteriorate rapidly" depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "grow terribly"?

Yes, it's grammatically correct. "Terribly" functions as an adverb modifying the verb "grow", indicating the manner in which something is increasing or developing.

What does it mean when something is described as "growing terribly"?

It signifies that something is increasing or developing in a manner that is highly undesirable, negative, or problematic. It emphasizes the severity or intensity of the growth or development.