adv

frightfully

FRYT-fuh-lee

Frightfully (adv) means In a shocking or dreadful manner. Example: “The victims were frightfully treated.”

adv

In a shocking or dreadful manner.

"The victims were frightfully treated."

Very; extremely (dated, chiefly British, often in a posh or old-fashioned tone).

"I'm frightfully sorry, I didn't catch your name."

How to use frightfully

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMostly used now as an old-fashioned British way of saying "very" ("frightfully sorry", "frightfully kind").

When to use it

Sounds dated or deliberately posh/comic in modern speech.

Word forms

more frightfully comparative, most frightfully superlative

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The victims were _____ treated.

Synonyms

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awful terribly awfully

Related words

good bad nice awesome terrible horrible awful terribly

Rhymes for frightfully

gully fully sully bully cully Tully Scully awfully joyfully lawfully woefully hopefully

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Frequently asked questions

What does “frightfully” mean?

The word “frightfully” means in a shocking or dreadful manner. In plain terms, mostly used now as an old-fashioned British way of saying "very" ("frightfully sorry", "frightfully kind").

How do you pronounce “frightfully”?

“Frightfully” is pronounced FRYT-fuh-lee (/ˈfɹaɪtfəli/ in IPA).

How do you use “frightfully” in a sentence?

Here is “frightfully” used in a sentence: “The victims were frightfully treated.”

What part of speech is “frightfully”?

“Frightfully” is an adverb.

How many meanings does “frightfully” have?

“Frightfully” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in a shocking or dreadful manner.

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