adv
woefully
Woefully (adv) means to a shockingly great or inadequate extent. Example: “The team was woefully underprepared for the final.”
adv
1
To a shockingly great or inadequate extent.
"The attempt at diversity fell woefully short of dispelling straight stereotypes of us."
— Cindy Stein, Queers in America's Living Rooms (1979)
"For international services, London's High Speed 1 route to the Channel Tunnel remains woefully underused."
— Philip Haigh, Competition hots up on the Channel Tunnel route (2025)
"The team was woefully underprepared for the final."
How to use woefully
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsed to stress just how bad or lacking something is.
Common pairings
woefully inadequate
woefully underprepared
woefully short of
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more woefully
- Superlative
- most woefully
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The team was _____ underprepared for the final.
Etymology
From Middle English wofully, from woeful plus -ly.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for woefully
See all rhymes for woefully →Frequently asked questions
What does “woefully” mean?
The word “woefully” means to a shockingly great or inadequate extent. In plain terms, used to stress just how bad or lacking something is.
How do you use “woefully” in a sentence?
Here is “woefully” used in a sentence: “The team was woefully underprepared for the final.”
What part of speech is “woefully”?
“Woefully” is an adverb.
Where does the word “woefully” come from?
The word “woefully” comes from Middle English. From Middle English wofully, from woeful plus -ly.
