frightfully

Examples

• All

• I think that went frightfully well.

  Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties (2006)

• Because we're all so frightfully proper.

  S.O.S. Titanic (1980)

• I found it frightfully difficult myself... until I got the hang of it.

  Fiction book (1994)

• Besides, the dream's meaning was frightfully clear.

  Fiction book (1995)

• Things are frightfully mixed up.

  A Damsel in Distress (1937)

• I'm frightfully sorry for calling you at this hour.

  Cloud Atlas (2012)

• I am growing frightfully hungry, having eaten nothing since yesterday morning in Calais.

  Blog text (22)

• Well, old Bellwood is frightfully snooty.

  Gangster Story (1959)

• It's frightfully nice.

  A Hard Day's Night (1964)

• I think that went frightfully well.

Synonyms

V

very

vsfrightfully

∞ 1.0

To a large degree

is similar but carries a distinct regional British tone

E

even

vsfrightfully

∞ 1.0

Used to show something is surprising or extreme

emphasizes degree too but usually lacks the surprise implication

E

extremely

vsfrightfully

∞ 1.0

To a very great degree

is comparable in force but feels more colloquial and British

A

awfully

vsfrightfully

351 1.4

To show strong feeling or degree

uses similar emphasis but more specifically reflects British colloquial style

U

utterly

vsfrightfully

236 3.6

Completely, to show that something is very strong or very great

emphasizes strong degree without implying total completeness

T

terribly

vsfrightfully

230 1.4

To a very great degree, often before words like cold or sad

is akin in strength but carries a British flavor

A

awful

vsfrightfully

• Informal

212 1.3

Used before adjectives or adverbs informally to mean very

is similar in emphasis but often sounds more classically British

E

extraordinarily

vsfrightfully

137 3.9

To a much higher level than usual

expresses strong degree too but in everyday British speech

E

ever so

vsfrightfully

80 4.2

To make an adjective or adverb much stronger

is stronger and more marked British emphasis than a mild form

S

scary

vsfrightfully

• Informal

64 5.9

Extremely or to a very high degree

also marks intensity but tends to be more British and dated

E

exceedingly

vsfrightfully

57 4.6

To a very great degree

shares strong degree but is marked by British everyday use

H

helluva

vsfrightfully

• Informal

24 9.9

An informal way to say something is very impressive or large to show strong feeling

shows strong emphasis too but is more literary than slangy

D

dreadfully

vsfrightfully

18 4.4

Shows that something is very bad, unpleasant, or extreme

stresses degree similarly but without the negative or dramatic sense

I

inordinately

vsfrightfully

• Formal

7 7.5

To a much greater degree than is normal

is similar in degree but appears more conversationally British

A

awesomely

vsfrightfully

• Informal

5 5.4

To make a describing word much stronger

adds emphasis too but tends to sound more neutral and British

T

terrifyingly

vsfrightfully

5 6.5

In a way that is very frightening or very strong to show how serious something is

adds emphasis too but is less about fear, more about degree

W

wickedly

vsfrightfully

• Informal

5 6.9

An informal way to mean very or extremely

offers similar force but is more restrained and British in feel

D

devilishly

vsfrightfully

4 6.2

To a very great degree

keeps strong emphasis but is more conventional and British

S

something fierce

vsfrightfully

• Informal

4 8.6

To a very great degree

functions as an intensifier too but more often as a single word

U

ultra

vsfrightfully

• Informal

4 4.4

Adds emphasis to say something is very strong

is also emphatic but often sounds like older spoken British usage

D

deadly

vsfrightfully

2 3.9

To a very high degree

is emphatic too but avoids violent or fatal imagery

P

preciously

vsfrightfully

• Archaic

1 9.9

To show that there is very little

marks strong emphasis rather than a small or delicate degree

H

horrifically

vsfrightfully

1 5.8

In a way that is very strong or extreme

adds emphasis too but is neutral about shock or horror

G

goddamnedest

vsfrightfully

• Offensive

1 9.9

Very extreme and surprising that people use to show strong feeling

is emphatic as well but lacks the coarse or vulgar flavour

F

frigging

vsfrightfully

• NSFW

1 9.8

To add strong emphasis before an adjective or adverb

expresses high degree without coarse or taboo language

I

ineffably

vsfrightfully

• Formal

1 9.8

So great that you cannot find words to describe it

focuses on strong degree but stays ordinary and describable

R

rattlingly

vsfrightfully

• UK

7.9

To make a describing word much stronger

functions as an intensifier too but is more common in British usage

W

wicked

vsfrightfully

• Informal

8.0

An informal word meaning very, often used in New England

performs the same role but often sounds more British

D

damnedest

vsfrightfully

• NSFW

8.6

To try very hard to do something

provides strong emphasis too but is less slangy in British use

S

stinkingly

vsfrightfully

• Informal

8.2

People use it informally to mean very before adjectives

is similarly emphatic but often sounds more polite and British

R

ragingly

vsfrightfully

• Informal

8.2

To a very great degree

gives emphasis too but is more restrained and British

G

goshawfully

vsfrightfully

• Archaic

9.9

Shows that a describing word is very strong

serves as emphasis too but with standard British flavour

V

villainously

vsfrightfully

• Informal

7.3

To a very high degree

adds emphasis too but without the playful sinister flavour

D

direfully

vsfrightfully

• Archaic

9.9

In a way that shows great fear or warns of danger

emphasizes degree too but usually without a grave or fearful sense

How Intense

extremely

∞ 1.0

frightfully

• UK

12 6.0

quite

∞ 1.0

fairly

895 1.0

slightly

885 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology