miraculously

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'miraculously' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to emphasize that something happened in an astonishing or unexpected way, usually due to an intervening act of God. For example: "Miraculously, the family escaped unscathed from the burning house."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They come on foot from surrounding towns; on roads around the region you can see them trudging toward the adobe church in darkness before dawn.In Chimayo they collect dirt, which they believe has miraculous healing powers, from the shrine of the church, which legend says miraculously refills itself.

The Economist

Miraculously, he survived the twin explosions, believed to be the work of Islamist insurgents Boko Haram, that left at least 123 dead.

The Guardian

I'm somewhere near Birmingham, in a location that viewers of BBC1's semi-soap Doctors – set, miraculously, somewhere near Birmingham – will instantly identify as Letherbridge.

The Guardian

Miraculously, Henry's family did not want to press charges.

The Guardian

Had I miraculously acquired je ne sais quois?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The ONR has had recruitment difficulties; this may account for the fact that much of this design assessment was way behind schedule, only to be miraculously recovered at the end.

The Guardian - Business

Since the ACA was signed into law in 2010, it has miraculously managed to withstand "Hitler death panel" comparisons, state by state efforts to block its implementation, a US supreme court challenge to its constitutionality and, most recently, a defunding effort that led to the federal government shutdown.

The Guardian - Opinion

And, you know, miraculously, she did survive, and the doctor assured me that some children just have a really low tolerance for fever, and it's something that she would almost certainly grow out of.

The Guardian

In recent times, retirement has been made easy for English football's finest, and Jamie Redknapp, with spaces miraculously emerging either on the Match of the Day sofa or in the Sky Sports studio for them to fill – ideally while wearing trousers so tight that they endanger both decency and the wearer's hopes of any future children.

The Guardian - Sport

Miraculously, after a perilous journey thought to have begun on the Libyan coast, they are in relatively good condition.

The Guardian

The category-five storm - the ninth most intense ever recorded - together with its devilish cohort of 15 twisters, caused $80m of damage but, miraculously, killed only 38 people.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "miraculously" when you want to emphasize an event's astonishing or improbable nature, suggesting divine intervention or extraordinary good fortune. Consider if a simpler adverb like "remarkably" or "incredibly" might suffice if you don't intend to imply divine intervention.

Common error

Avoid using "miraculously" excessively in your writing. Overuse can dilute its impact and make your writing sound hyperbolic. Opt for more nuanced adverbs or descriptive phrases when the situation doesn't genuinely warrant a sense of awe or divine intervention.

Linguistic Context

The word "miraculously" functions primarily as an adverb, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to describe how something happened. It signifies that an event occurred in a way that seems to defy natural laws or expectations, often implying divine intervention or extraordinary good fortune. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Formal & Business

14%

Science

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adverb "miraculously" is a powerful word used to describe events that defy expectations, often suggesting divine intervention or extraordinary luck. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It appears frequently in news and media, as well as in more formal and business contexts. When using "miraculously", consider whether its implication of something beyond the natural is truly intended, or if a more neutral adverb like "remarkably" or "unexpectedly" would be more appropriate. Avoid overusing "miraculously" to maintain its impact. With alternatives like "by a miracle" and "providentially", writers can choose the best way to capture the sense of wonder and surprise.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by a miracle

This alternative directly implies divine intervention or extraordinary luck.

by some miracle

This is similar to "by a miracle", but perhaps expresses slight doubt or surprise.

providentially

Emphasizes that the event occurred through divine foresight or intervention.

incredibly

Focuses on the unbelievable nature of the event, omitting the divine aspect.

astonishingly

Highlights the surprising and remarkable nature of the occurrence.

unbelievably

Emphasizes the difficulty in accepting the event as true.

remarkably

Stresses the exceptional and noteworthy aspect of the situation.

against all odds

Emphasizes the improbability of the event occurring.

wonderfully

Highlights the positive and pleasing nature of the surprising event.

auspiciously

Suggests the event was favored by fortune or divine guidance.

FAQs

How can I use "miraculously" in a sentence?

Use "miraculously" to describe events that seem to defy natural laws or expectations, often implying divine intervention or extraordinary luck. For example, "Miraculously, the baby survived the fall from the building".

What are some alternatives to "miraculously"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "incredibly", "astonishingly", "remarkably", or "by some miracle" to convey a similar sense of surprise or wonder.

Is it appropriate to use "miraculously" in formal writing?

While "miraculously" is grammatically correct, its use in formal writing depends on the context. If you intend to convey a sense of genuine awe or divine intervention, it can be appropriate. However, in more technical or objective writing, consider using alternatives that sound less subjective, such as "unexpectedly" or "surprisingly".

What's the difference between "miraculously" and "fortunately"?

"Miraculously" implies an event occurred through divine intervention or extraordinary luck, often defying natural expectations. "Fortunately", on the other hand, simply means that something good happened, often due to luck or good circumstances, without necessarily implying anything supernatural or extraordinary. For instance, "Fortunately, I had an umbrella" implies a lucky coincidence, while "Miraculously, the plane landed safely" implies an improbable and astonishing outcome.