horrendously

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'horrendously' is an acceptable and commonly used word in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is extremely unpleasant, bad, or offensive. Example sentence: The city was horrendously polluted due to years of industrialization.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But on the question of how much harm this will actually do—how bad things will look at any given level of carbon dioxide things are unlikely to be so clear-cut.Accompanying spin says that the situation looks worse than ever beforeThe climate is horrendously complex, and the more one thinks about it, the greater the horrendousness.

The Economist

Having taken the first set with an ace, Djokovic sealed the second when Murray horrendously butchered a smash.

The Guardian - Sport

Yoni Buyens was the Charlton man at fault with a horrendously misplaced pass.

The Guardian - Sport

He described Clinton as "a hypocrite" for allowing her family's charitable foundation to accept money "from countries that absolutely treat women horrendously", and said her experience in the state last time had not been forgotten.

The Guardian

And even if you also temporarily leave out the prospect that the likes of the Real IRA, the Continuity IRA and Óghlaigh na hÉireann will deploy security alerts across Dublin to disrupt the royal entourage, the Irish state still faces the prospect of horrendously damaging global publicity.

The Guardian

For some, life is horrendously unfair.

The Guardian - Opinion

Thanks to luck and skill, the government managed to finance a century's worth of horrendously expensive wars in a way that not only did not cripple commerce but mobilised commercial resources for new challenges.The key piece of skill was the mechanism of "funding" that secured interest payments.

The Economist

The feed is "horrendously expensive", says Keith Bennett, owner of Stockings Farm in the Chilterns.

The Economist

IN 2006 the British government, with much fanfare, simplified its horrendously complicated tax rules on pensions.

The Economist

Other ballot measures, such as Proposition 98 in 1988, were meant to restore school spending, with horrendously complex funding formulas.

The Economist

In most cases such procedures are needed because of severe bone loss due to injury, illness or surgical treatment of conditions such as head and neck cancer.Refashioning the front of the skull is horrendously tricky.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "horrendously" to emphasize the severity of a negative situation or quality. This adverb adds significant impact, making it suitable for situations where you want to express strong disapproval or highlight a terrible aspect.

Common error

Avoid using "horrendously" in situations that don't warrant such a strong negative connotation. Overusing the word can diminish its impact and make your writing seem hyperbolic or overly dramatic. Opt for a milder adverb when describing less severe issues.

Linguistic Context

Horrendously functions as an adverb, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to intensify the degree of negativity or unpleasantness. Ludwig provides examples showcasing its use in diverse contexts, confirming its established grammatical role.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "horrendously" is a commonly used adverb that intensifies negative descriptions. Ludwig AI confirms its proper grammatical standing. While suitable for many contexts, especially in News & Media, it's crucial to avoid overuse and consider more formal alternatives in certain settings. Its function is to express strong disapproval, making it a powerful tool when used judiciously.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

terribly

Indicates a severe degree of badness or unpleasantness, similar to "horrendously" but less formal.

awfully

Expresses a great degree of something negative, akin to "horrendously" but with a slightly milder tone.

dreadfully

Signifies something extremely unpleasant or of very poor quality, comparable to "horrendously".

appallingly

Highlights a shocking or dreadful nature, similar to "horrendously" but emphasizing the causing of dismay.

atrociously

Conveys a sense of extreme wickedness or offensiveness, close in meaning to "horrendously".

egregiously

Emphasizes an outstandingly bad or shocking quality, similar in impact to "horrendously" but more formal.

abominably

Denotes something detestable or unpleasant to a high degree, akin to "horrendously" in intensity.

hideously

Focuses on repulsiveness or ugliness, which can be a facet of what "horrendously" describes.

frightfully

Indicates a considerable degree of something bad, similar to "horrendously" but can also imply fear.

monstrously

Suggests something shockingly wrong or unjust, sharing a sense of outrage with "horrendously".

FAQs

How can I use "horrendously" in a sentence?

You can use "horrendously" to describe something extremely unpleasant or bad. For example, "The traffic was "horrendously" slow due to the accident".

What words are similar to "horrendously"?

Alternatives to "horrendously" include "terribly", "awfully", or "dreadfully", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

While "horrendously" is acceptable, consider more formal alternatives like "egregiously" or "atrociously" in very formal contexts to maintain a professional tone.

What's the difference between "horrendously" and "horribly"?

"Horrendously" and "horribly" are similar, but "horrendously" often implies a greater degree of unpleasantness or shock. "Horribly" can sometimes be used in a more casual way.