dreadfully

adverb

Definition of dreadfullynext
as in terribly

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dreadfully Part slasher parody, part meta commentary on the structure of horror movies, and fully riotous, Behind the Mask is a dreadfully under-appreciated contribution to the subgenre that would have made for a terrific franchise. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 9 June 2026 Especially early in its career, Hum was dreadfully misclassified as just another soft-to-loud/Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana wannabe, and remained criminally under-appreciated for its heavy/stoner-friendly Midwestern shoegaze vibes long after its breakup. — Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 16 May 2026 More than anything, this documentary is dreadfully dull. — Zack Sharf, Variety, 11 Mar. 2026 That’s another company with a stock that acts dreadfully. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 25 Jan. 2026 Shin Godzilla, written and directed by Hideaki Anno of Neon Genesis Evangelion fame, comes the closest because it’s inspired by its own all-too-recent tragedy and feels dreadfully specific in its metaphor. — James Grebey, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026 For 20 games, opponents often shot dreadfully from distance against Miami, whether the three-point attempts were heavily contested or not. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 14 Dec. 2025 Today, however, Rihanna turned even the most dreadfully boring activity into an opportunity to stunt. — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 13 Nov. 2025 The back end of the bullpen is stout, yet the lineup is dreadfully short. — Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dreadfully
  1. terribly
  2. awfully
  3. horribly
  4. horrendously
  5. disastrously
  6. horrifically
  7. poorly
  8. abysmally
Adverb
  • Unfortunately, decisions aren’t terribly effective today and according to Gartner 72% of executives say that bad decisions are as prevalent as good ones.
    — Tracy Brower, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • Given that humans at OpenAI had decided to turn off some safeguards for the test, some have argued the outcome should not have been terribly surprising.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026
Definition of terribly
Adverb
  • Vega Ioane, iOL, Baltimore Ravens I came awfully close to slotting Ioane ahead of Mauigoa in my prospect stack last spring, so this still feels like a steal — and another great fit.
    — Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The salade de homard has skimpy pieces of lobster tossed on greens with some green beans, and the steak filet is awfully small, though perfectly cooked.
    — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
Definition of awfully
Adverb
  • The green team’s struggles are already horribly familiar for Alonso this year, particularly as its first Honda engine has been largely off the pace of the leaders.
    — Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • Past air shows have gone horribly wrong when military aviators have cut their margins too close.
    — Brynn Tannehill, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026
Definition of horribly
Adverb
  • The less said about Bryan’s horrendously gauche fuchsia-and-gold dress with puffy armholes and halter neck the better.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 July 2026
  • Too little regulation could allow the unleashing of devilish AI that might wipe us out or at least be horrendously destructive.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of horrendously
Adverb
  • However, enforcement – both statewide and nationally – is disastrously underresourced.
    — David Michaels, The Conversation, 18 June 2026
  • His high point will be long forgotten, disastrously undone by his successor to plunge the world into recession, if not depression.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2026
Definition of disastrously
Adverb
  • Both performers excel at peeling back the layers of anger, resentment, love and yearning between two parties of a partnership that had its share of good alongside the horrifically bad.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 27 July 2026
  • The serum works, but quickly — and horrifically — begins transforming Matt into the goopy, shape-shifting entity, who has been one of Batman’s frequent villains in comic books and television series for decades.
    — Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026
Definition of horrifically
Adverb
  • But University of Pennsylvania classics scholar Emily Wilson, who published her own translation of Homer's epic in 2017, says Nolan's script is poorly written and lacking in emotional depth and character development.
    — Dave Davies, NPR, 29 July 2026
  • The soil is just as dense, heavy, and poorly drained as ever.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 29 July 2026
Definition of poorly
Adverb
  • In practice, this meant that the state set abysmally low standards for what students should learn to advance and graduate.
    — Rachel Canter, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Reports on abysmally low rates of recycling for milk cartons and polystyrene had been widely shared even before that.
    — Susanne Rust Follow, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Definition of abysmally

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Cite this Entry

“Dreadfully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dreadfully. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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