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Awfully vs Awful - What's the difference?

awfully | awful |

In obsolete terms the difference between awfully and awful

is that awfully is fearfully while awful is terror-stricken.

As adverbs the difference between awfully and awful

is that awfully is in a manner inspiring awe while awful is very, extremely; as, an awful big house.

As an adjective awful is

oppressing with fear or horror; appalling, terrible.

awfully

English

Adverb

(en adverb)
  • In a manner inspiring awe.
  • Reverently.
  • Badly, terribly.
    • She led after the swiming and cycling, but ran awfully and came in fourth.
  • (not comparable) Very; exceedingly; extremely; excessively.
  • * 1912 , , The Grim Smile of the Five Towns , Project Gutenberg eText.
    • It was wondrous. 'I'm awfully glad I came now,' his thought ran; 'I'm managing it rather well.'
  • (obsolete) Fearfully.

    • Usage notes

    * Adjectives to which "awfully" is often applied: good, hard, sad, nice, sorry, long, quiet, big, glad, familiar, well, difficult, tired, bad, hot, high, busy, pretty, small, cold, funny, expensive, fond, important, young, interesting, jolly, short, proud, clever, boring, strange, happy, lonely, stupid, strong, sick, pleased, old, hungry, afraid, silly.

    Synonyms

    * (very) very, extremely, terribly

    awful

    English

    Alternative forms

    * awfull (archaic)

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • Oppressing with fear or horror; appalling, terrible.
  • Inspiring awe; filling with profound reverence or respect; profoundly impressive.
  • *, I.56:
    • God ought not to be commixed in our actions, but with awful reverence, and an attention full of honour and respect.
  • * 1819 , Lord Byron, Don Juan , II.143:
    • And then she stopped, and stood as if in awe / (For sleep is awful ).
  • Struck or filled with awe.
  • (obsolete) Terror-stricken.
  • Worshipful; reverential; law-abiding.
  • Exceedingly great; usually applied intensively.
    • an awful bonnet
    I have learnt an awful amount today.
  • Very bad.
    • My socks smell awful .

    Usage notes

    * Nouns to which "awful" is often applied: day, truth, time, place, moment, mess, night, news, state, situation, smell, thought, person, pain, movie, consequence, crime, fate, death, tragedy, man, event, disease, story, condition, mistake, taste, picture, year, calamity, doom, film, catastrophe, secret, performance, storm, end, week, shape, choice.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Adverb

    (-)
  • (colloquial) Very, extremely; as, an awful big house.

    • See also

    * awfully.

    External links

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