dreadfully

[ dred-fuh-lee ]

adverb

1. in a dreadful way:

   The pain has increased dreadfully.

2. very; extremely:

   Sorry to be so dreadfully late.

dreadfully

/ ˈdrɛdfʊlɪ /

adverb

1. in a shocking, or disagreeable manner
2. (intensifier)

   you're dreadfully kind

Word History and Origins

Origin of dreadfully¹

1275–1325; Middle English. See dreadful, -ly

Example Sentences

Andrew Moll, the chief inspector of Marine Accidents, said it was a "cruel lesson of how rapidly things can go dreadfully wrong".

From BBC

The BBC approached Michael Ward at the Harrods headquarters and he said: "I am very dreadfully sorry for what has happened with Al Fayed."

From BBC

"I suffered dreadfully and still do with my periods but was not diagnosed until my 40s."

From BBC

"This is plainly a dreadfully sad case," he said.

From BBC

United started dreadfully and went into a rapid decline, somehow surviving until half-time as Spurs carved them open on countless occasions but could not add a second.

From BBC

Related Words

• disturbingly
• horribly
• shockingly
• terribly