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

While not solely to blame for their dreadfully poor domestic campaigns, injuries have certainly hampered both clubs.

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“When you get such interesting and amusing film roles, it doesn’t seem dreadfully exciting to be in the 257th revival of ‘The Rivals,’” she said.

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Drab, laborious and dreadfully predictable, the Bianconeri promised change but seem to be delivering much of the same, with fewer positive results.

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

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

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Related Words

• disturbingly www.thesaurus.com
• horribly 
• shockingly www.thesaurus.com
• terribly