as in extremely
to a great degree
I'm awfully sorry
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Recent Examples of awfully
The willingness of the officers to jump into some awfully cold water was for a good cause – Special Olympics Illinois — is admirable.
—
Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
That’s despite the fact that outfielder Wyatt Langford (4 for 28) has gotten off to an awfully quiet start in the two hole.
—Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 2 Apr. 2026
Emma is a literary editor, though the specifics are awfully vague—a late subplot involving challenges on the job feels particularly superficial—and her love for literature seems to begin and end with that novel in the café.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026
For a global city, New York can be awfully provincial.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 1 Apr. 2026
That sounds like an awfully low bar for a team on pace to rack up at least 120 points during the regular season.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2026
The classic bikini fairing harks back to the original café racer's front end, surrounding a pair of awfully low-slung clip-on handlebars and dual electronic clocks behind a compact visor.
—New Atlas, 6 Mar. 2026
But the combination of naked ambition, absence of cynicism, and a sunny disposition seemed awfully suspicious.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
The dollars per share can be awfully confusing.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2026
Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
That’s despite the fact that outfielder Wyatt Langford (4 for 28) has gotten off to an awfully quiet start in the two hole.
—Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 2 Apr. 2026
Emma is a literary editor, though the specifics are awfully vague—a late subplot involving challenges on the job feels particularly superficial—and her love for literature seems to begin and end with that novel in the café.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026
For a global city, New York can be awfully provincial.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 1 Apr. 2026
That sounds like an awfully low bar for a team on pace to rack up at least 120 points during the regular season.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2026
The classic bikini fairing harks back to the original café racer's front end, surrounding a pair of awfully low-slung clip-on handlebars and dual electronic clocks behind a compact visor.
—New Atlas, 6 Mar. 2026
But the combination of naked ambition, absence of cynicism, and a sunny disposition seemed awfully suspicious.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
The dollars per share can be awfully confusing.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for awfully
Adverb
-
Even if well-intentioned, this kind of unsolicited feedback can be extremely frustrating and even hurtful.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
-
After the family moved to America, Crockett was diagnosed with the extremely rare syndactyly-telecanthus-anogenital and renal malformations syndrome, or STAR syndrome, which impacts different parts of the body.—
Megan Vaz,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Arthur would have looked very different had another actor played him, according to the filmmaker.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Over time, my relationship with my wife has become very difficult.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
All told, the destructive flooding killed at least 136 people along a several-mile stretch of the river, raising questions about how things went so terribly wrong.—
Jim Vertuno,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Things aren’t going terribly well as of late for the Prius.—
Joel Feder,
The Drive,
8 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
What starts as a playful, casual parlor game suddenly turns incredibly dark, not just because of Emma’s confession but by Rachel’s sudden turn from loyal friend to judgmental scold.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Hardside coolers are incredibly heavy when filled, but this one is easy to wheel across parking lots, beaches, and parks.—
Sian Babish,
PEOPLE,
7 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Tiffany, the Republican candidate for governor in Wisconsin, cautioned against reading too much into Tuesday’s results.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The Royals’ offense had its early-season frustrations a year ago before turning it on after the All-Star break — albeit too late to make a playoff run.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
9 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
The protests appear highly organized, suggesting the involvement of more powerful actors behind the scenes, said Julia Urrunaga, Peru program director at the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA).—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Here’s how to put your lint roller to work in unexpected (and highly effective) ways around your home.—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
11 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
But Cleveland State was, in fact, a damned good basketball team, as were most of the double-digit seed winners in NCAA Tournament history.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
18 Mar. 2026
-
And damned if Love isn’t willing to talk, sometimes candidly and other times in maddeningly vague terms, about all the hell she’s gone through to get to right now.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
28 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
And then the police really botched it badly.—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The mother of the malnourished and badly bruised youngster, Dominque Servant, 33, has been charged, alongside her boyfriend, Joey Ruffin, 38, with causing Markell’s death in February.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Awfully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/awfully. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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