What does horribly mean?
Horribly is an adverb meaning 'very badly', 'to an extreme degree', or, in some contexts, 'in a manner that causes horror or dread'. It commonly describes harmful conditions, painful experiences, mistakes, and unfortunate events: a population may be horribly affected by disease, or a performance may go horribly wrong. The word can also intensify an unpleasant emotion, as in 'I was horribly disappointed'. Although it appears in both formal writing and everyday speech, its force is emotional and emphatic; where a neutral description is needed, 'very' or a more precise expression may be preferable. Historically, the adverb was formed from 'horrible', which in turn comes from a Latin word associated with terror and shuddering. Its modern use therefore retains both the idea of extreme badness and, in some contexts, the more literal suggestion of something horrifying.
adverbTo an extreme degree or in a very bad way. It can emphasize the severity of a situation, outcome, or unpleasant feeling.
- Very badly or to an extreme degree.
- In a way that causes horror, fright, or intense dismay.
"The village was horribly damaged by the earthquake."
"I was horribly nervous before the final performance."
"The documents reveal how horribly the refugees suffered during the conflict."
A single intensifier can turn an ordinary complaint into a dramatic verdict: a bad film becomes a horribly bad film.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does horribly come from?
Horribly was formed in the early 19th century by adding the adverbial suffix -ly to the adjective horrible. Horrible entered English through Old French and ultimately derives from Latin horribilis, formed from horrēre, 'to horrify' or 'make shudder'. Related English words include horror, horrify, and horrific, which preserve the same association with fear and intense disgust.
How horribly is actually used
The adverb is common in formal and informal English, although it can sound more dramatic or emotionally emphatic than the less colourful expression 'very'. It is also used figuratively to emphasize that something is extremely bad.