woefully

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "woefully" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adverb meaning "in a sad or sorry way", so it can be used when describing something in a way that is sadly deficient or inadequate. For example: The young athlete performed woefully in the competition, coming in last in every event.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Despite the absence of away fans the atmosphere was not helped by a security operation that, according to eyewitnesses, was woefully inadequate.

The Guardian - Sport

He calls the current crop that the NHL currently collects "woefully inadequate".

The Guardian - Sport

It's the political handling that has been woeful, though Labour has wobbled woefully too.

The Guardian - Opinion

One of the key takeaways from the new science is how woefully ill-equipped people are when it comes to reliably reporting our attitudes, values and behaviours.

The Guardian

The strategy of the immediate past administration – if ever there was a strategy – failed woefully.

The Guardian

The gravamen of the charge against this government is that, for all the triumphalism about a long-delayed period of economic growth, it woefully mishandled the economy when it came in – and plans an assault on our already deteriorating public services, if it is re-elected, that would quite seriously threaten the social fabric of the nation.

The Guardian - Business

Yet somehow these trade bodies manage to be so much woefully less than the sum of their parts.

The Guardian

First, Valencia woefully under-hit a back-pass and allowed Danny Welbeck to sprint past De Gea for the winner.

The Guardian - Sport

The group also called on the government to "substantially widen" the "woefully inadequate" availability of MBCT on the NHS for adults with a history of depression on the basis that it "significantly reduces risk of relapse".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

That said, Australia capitulated woefully in the second half, with Ecuador's myriad changes at half-time paying off.

The Guardian - Sport

Prof David Lindenmayer, an Australian National University scientist who is considered a leading authority on the Leadbeater's possum, said measures so far to save the possum have been "woefully inadequate".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "woefully" to emphasize a significant and unfortunate deficiency. It adds a layer of regret or disappointment to the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "woefully" in very casual conversation. It's a relatively formal word and can sound out of place if the setting is too relaxed.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "woefully" functions to modify adjectives or verbs, emphasizing the degree to which something is inadequate, deficient, or regrettable. It adds a layer of disappointment or sorrow to the description, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

16%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "woefully" functions as an adverb to emphasize the inadequacy or regrettable nature of something. It's grammatically correct and frequently used in news, business, and scientific contexts. While versatile, it's best to avoid using it in casual settings, as Ludwig points out. Alternatives include "deplorably", "lamentably", and "sadly", each carrying slightly different nuances. According to Ludwig AI, the word is correct and usable in written English. The examples provided showcase its effectiveness in conveying a sense of disappointment and deficiency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deplorably

This alternative emphasizes the lamentable or shameful quality of the situation.

lamentably

This term highlights the regrettable nature of the deficiency.

sadly

This alternative directly expresses the feeling of sorrow associated with the situation.

regrettably

This focuses on the feeling of regret about something.

unfortunately

This alternative points out the bad luck associated with the situation.

terribly

This highlights the severe or extreme nature of the inadequacy.

distinctly

This alternative stresses the clear or unmistakable nature of the inadequacy.

miserably

This conveys the unhappiness or suffering resulting from the situation.

utterly

This focuses on the complete and absolute nature of the failure or inadequacy.

inadequately

This directly states that something is not sufficient or good enough.

FAQs

How to use "woefully" in a sentence?

"Woefully" is used as an adverb to describe something done in a regrettable or inadequate manner. For instance, "The team performed "woefully" during the championship game" indicates their performance was disappointingly poor.

What can I say instead of "woefully"?

You can use alternatives like "deplorably", "lamentably", or "sadly" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "woefully inadequate" or "woeful inadequate"?

"Woefully inadequate" is correct. "Woefully" is an adverb modifying the adjective "inadequate", while "woeful" is an adjective and doesn't fit grammatically in this phrase.

What's the difference between "woefully" and "sadly"?

While both "woefully" and "sadly" express unhappiness, "woefully" specifically emphasizes the inadequacy or deficiency of something, whereas "sadly" expresses general sorrow or misfortune.