1
: exceedingly, extremely, very
—used as an intensive
an awfully long time
That's awfully nice of you.
Her name seems awfully familiar.
Technically, it's not bribery, but it's awfully close.—
Elizabeth Drew
Elizabeth Drew"I suppose you think me awfully foolish about it?"—Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde2
a
dated
: in a way that inspires awe
… the drawing room in which New York's most chosen company was somewhat awfully assembled.—Edith Wharton
Edith Wharton
b
archaic
: with a feeling of awe
And timorous passed, and awfully withdrew.—Alexander Pope, translation The Odyssey of Homer
Alexander Pope, translation The Odyssey of Homer3
: in an unpleasant, disagreeable, or objectionable way
We were treated awfully.
The team played awfully.
… he of the red nightcap now commenced snoring awfully …—George Borrow
George BorrowExamples of awfully in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The announcer for his team sounds awfully familiar.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
Los Angeles – and particularly the community that surrounds Riviera, still in recovery mode from the devastating fires that ravaged Pacific Palisades in January, 2025 – also won, with this week-long reminder that this community is still awfully special, no matter what the haters say.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 8 June 2026
Even though men’s tennis has felt awfully predictable over the past two decades, fans always must be on their toes, because anything can happen.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 7 June 2026
After Carle or Cassidy, whom the Vegas brass have locked up in in dungeon near Circus Circus, the pickings look awfully slim.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 3 June 2026
More importantly, abandoning a franchise because one player welcomed a president on stage seems like an awfully thin reason to walk away.
—Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
Quatraro’s comment about not having 25 major-league quality players floating around may sound awfully familiar to Royals fans.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026
There is something awfully likable about this team, mostly its refusal to quit.
—John Shipley, Twin Cities, 22 May 2026
Because Baggers are awfully low to begin with.
—New Atlas, 19 May 2026
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Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
Los Angeles – and particularly the community that surrounds Riviera, still in recovery mode from the devastating fires that ravaged Pacific Palisades in January, 2025 – also won, with this week-long reminder that this community is still awfully special, no matter what the haters say.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 8 June 2026
Even though men’s tennis has felt awfully predictable over the past two decades, fans always must be on their toes, because anything can happen.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 7 June 2026
After Carle or Cassidy, whom the Vegas brass have locked up in in dungeon near Circus Circus, the pickings look awfully slim.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 3 June 2026
More importantly, abandoning a franchise because one player welcomed a president on stage seems like an awfully thin reason to walk away.
—Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
Quatraro’s comment about not having 25 major-league quality players floating around may sound awfully familiar to Royals fans.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026
There is something awfully likable about this team, mostly its refusal to quit.
—John Shipley, Twin Cities, 22 May 2026
Because Baggers are awfully low to begin with.
—New Atlas, 19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Awfully.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/awfully. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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