Skip to main content
horribly

horribly

126 3.5
In a very bad or shocking way
  • adverb
  • /ˈhɔːrəbli/
translation icon : terriblemente
  • The Irish immigrant population treated horribly for quite some time.
  • go horribly wrong
  • horribly wrong
  • suffer horribly

I'm pretty sure it's going to be horribly slow, but we'll see.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • If this goes horribly wrong, I have a problem.

  • I think it could go horribly wrong.

  • I was like, that could go horribly wrong, horribly wrong.

  • But I think that, you know, this is horribly relevant for our time, really.

  • I do feel most horribly responsible for that.

  • I'm pretty sure it's going to be horribly slow, but we'll see.

  • Yeah, but what if it was slow and horribly painful?

  • And the stuff he wrote down, I mean, it was accurate, but it's horribly worded.

  • They seek to round up immigrants, which is horribly immoral.

  • The storm affected the town horribly, leaving many residents homeless.

Synonyms

badly
vshorribly
456 1.0

To a great degree

adds intense shock or dread beyond general negative severity
terribly
vshorribly
378 1.0

In a very bad way

leans more toward strong shock and dread than ordinary badness
painfully
vshorribly
106 3.7

In a way that causes physical or emotional pain

carries more sense of shock and horror rather than direct pain
awfully
vshorribly
70 3.0

To happen in a very bad or unpleasant way

is more emotionally shocking and dreadful rather than just very bad
harshly
vshorribly
49 3.5

In a severe or unkind way that feels unpleasant

is more about dread and shock than mere severity of treatment
shockingly
vshorribly
38 4.8

In a way that surprises or upsets people a lot

is similar but focuses more on dread and general unpleasantness
woefully
vshorribly
27 6.5

In a way that is very bad or not good enough

is more about causing horror or shock rather than only regretful badness
dreadfully
vshorribly
18 4.4

Shows that something is very bad, unpleasant, or extreme

leans toward unpleasantness and dread rather than only fear
hideously
vshorribly
18 5.5

In a very ugly or shocking way

focuses more on dread and shock rather than physical ugliness
excruciatingly
vshorribly
16 8.2

In a very painful or strong way

is more about dreadful or shocking unpleasantness than pure physical pain
horrendously
vshorribly
6 5.5

In a very bad or extreme way

carries extra sense of shock and dread beyond general badness
grievously
vshorribly
  • Formal
6 7.2

In a way that causes great harm, pain, or sadness

is more about shocking unpleasantness rather than prolonged suffering
appallingly
vshorribly
6 6.8

Makes people feel shocked or disgusted

is more about general extreme unpleasantness rather than only causing dismay
unpleasantly
vshorribly
5 2.7

In a way that makes you feel bad or uncomfortable

implies a stronger, shocking or dreadful unpleasantness rather than simple discomfort
monstrously
vshorribly
5 6.8

In a very cruel and shocking way

is more about general dreadful unpleasantness than moral evil
agonizingly
vshorribly
  • US
4 7.4

In a way that causes very strong physical pain or deep worry

focuses on shock and dread rather than mainly pain
abysmally
vshorribly
4 7.0

In a very bad way that shows poor quality or failure

adds a sense of shock and dread beyond mere poor quality
horrifically
vshorribly
3 6.0

In a way that is very shocking or frightening

emphasizes general dreadful unpleasantness rather than focused shock
horrifyingly
vshorribly
3 6.7

In a way that makes people feel very afraid or shocked

focuses more on general severe unpleasantness rather than causing horror
abominably
vshorribly
3 8.2

In a very rude and cruel way

focuses more on dreadful shock and general unpleasantness than moral hate
hellishly
vshorribly
2 8.8

In a very intense and unpleasant way

is broader, pointing to dread or unpleasantness without diabolical tone
horridly
vshorribly
1 7.0

In a very bad and unpleasant way

leans toward shocking and deeply unpleasant effect rather than mere disgust
atrociously
vshorribly
1 7.4

In a very bad or shocking way

is broader, covering general dreadful unpleasantness not always cruelty
nightmarishly
vshorribly
1 7.5

It happens in a very unpleasant and frightening way

leans toward general dreadful shock rather than surreal nightmare quality
harrowingly
vshorribly
1 8.8

In a way that causes great fear or pain

focuses instead on dreadful, shocking unpleasantness rather than distressing pain
rottenly
vshorribly
7.4

In a very bad or unpleasant way

is centered on shocking or dreadful unpleasantness rather than moral decay
direfully
vshorribly
  • Archaic
9.9

In a way that shows great fear or warns of danger

leans more toward general unpleasantness and shock than formal dread

Antonyms

50 1.0

In a friendly and enjoyable way

1 1.3

In a pleasant way that gives pleasure

How Horrible

horrendously
6 5.5
horribly
126 3.5
dreadfully
18 4.4
badly
285 1.0
unpleasantly
5 2.7

Surface Forms

horribly positive
horriblerly comparative
horriblest superlative

Morphology

horribly = horrible (transparent) = horrible + ly

The adverb is a straightforward adverbial formation from the adjective 'horrible' using the productive suffix '-ly'.

Etymology

Horribly comes from the old Latin word horrere, which means 'to shudder', and it is the same root as horror and horrible. So, horribly means 'in a very shocking or unpleasant way'.