adverb

• 1as submodifier Very; extremely.

  ‘I'm terribly sorry’

  More example sentences

  • ‘it was all terribly frustrating’
  • ‘She did love me, although I was so terribly selfish and awful to her.’
  • ‘As a film, Cinderella Man is terribly weak, thoroughly sentimental and predictable.’
  • ‘His inability to speak was terribly frustrating for him, and it just plain broke my heart.’
  • ‘I was terribly homesick when I first arrived here and missed my family very much.’
  • ‘They are clearly aware that there is no other way to elevate their social status except for working terribly hard.’
  • ‘I am full of thoughts and wishes for all of you and am terribly frustrated not to be able to express them.’
  • ‘We are terribly lucky to have such a homey kitchen in student accommodation.’
  • ‘Essendon would be in a terribly strong position if there were no salary cap and no draft.’
  • ‘Although not terribly powerful on his own, he's often useful to have as part of a team.’
  • ‘This is incredibly unrealistic and not terribly conducive to the story itself.’
  • ‘He's clearly convinced we're all headed for a nasty apocalyptic end but he manages to be terribly jolly about the whole thing.’
  • ‘She is terribly frightened, no doubt sensing that she may soon be badly hurt or harmed.’
  • ‘Erik moved along with his men and tried to look serious but was inside terribly afraid.’
  • ‘Rowing is a very physical activity and is taken terribly seriously by those involved.’
  • ‘This is the first time that my prospective father in law has done something so terribly nutty.’
  • ‘Some bright spark decided it would be terribly amusing to spill the contents of six litter bins across the cathedral green during the night.’
  • ‘I know you are hurt and I am terribly sorry you had to experience this at such a young age.’
  • ‘There's a few great action sequences in it, but apart from that it's not terribly remarkable.’
  • ‘He was not one of those people one should take lightly for he could become terribly serious in the blink of an eye.’
  • ‘But I do know that this ability, whether it's psychic or not, is not terribly uncommon.’

  Synonyms

  very, extremely, awfully, dreadfully, really, frightfully, exceptionally, exceedingly, immensely, thoroughly, uncommonly, remarkably, eminently, extraordinarily, incredibly, most, positively, decidedly, downright

  View synonyms

  1. 1.1Very greatly (used to emphasize something bad, distressing, or unpleasant)
     ‘your father misses you terribly’
     More example sentences

     • ‘She says she missed her father terribly growing up, and now only sees him about twice a year.’
     • ‘I loved my father, as I do now, and miss him terribly now he's gone.’
     • ‘He was a lovely human being, a gentle giant and I will miss him terribly.’
     • ‘As far as I was concerned, my dad had just disappeared, and I missed him terribly.’
     • ‘Dr Chakrabarti has been a great servant to Milnrow and he will be terribly missed by everyone he has helped.’
     • ‘Mr Brooks said his family missed Robyn terribly and thought of her every day.’
     • ‘I miss him terribly when he is away even though the terms are short and the holidays long.’
     • ‘She missed Nick terribly, more than last year even, when he'd first left for college.’
     • ‘It has only been a year since I lost my beloved Labrador Shamus and I still miss her terribly.’
     • ‘She felt another pang in her heart and realised she missed her parents terribly.’
     • ‘I can't believe it has only been a few days since I saw you last and I miss you terribly.’
     • ‘He missed Emily terribly and planned on surprising her at work if he could get done early enough.’
     • ‘The ball bounced once on the grass and hit Chloe in the leg, and she also missed that ball terribly.’
     • ‘He missed her terribly, and the worry of not knowing her fate gnawed at his mind constantly.’
     • ‘She had missed him terribly, but she was angry at him for deserting her when she needed him most.’
     • ‘Of course, I miss her terribly but I know she's going to be a huge success!’
     • ‘I progressed to high school the year before Frankie, and missed him terribly.’
     • ‘I'd miss Gabrielle terribly, but I vowed to take her on tour with me as soon as she was old enough.’
     • ‘We are so fortunate to have had him sing such beautiful, soulful songs and we will miss him terribly.’
     • ‘She suffered terribly from stage fright but she's past it to a degree.’
     Synonyms

     very much, greatly, a great deal, a lot, mightily

     View synonyms

• 2Very badly or unpleasantly.

  ‘they beat me terribly’

  More example sentences

  • ‘When I was being beaten in the ring, terribly beaten, hideously beaten, it would have been easy for me to quit.’

  Synonyms

  very badly, atrociously, awfully, dismally, dreadfully, appallingly, execrably, poorly, incompetently, inexpertly

  View synonyms