# horribly

/ˈhɔɹəbɫi/ (US) · /hˈɒɹɪbli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/horribly
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. very badly

adverb · CEFR B1

in a way that is very bad, unpleasant, or shocking.

For teachers: in a manner that is extremely unpleasant, shocking, or poorly executed.

- The singer performed horribly because she had a very sore throat.
- The project was horribly mismanaged from the start, leading to significant delays and a complete loss of investor confidence.

### 2. extremely (negative)

adverb · CEFR B2 · Informal

used to emphasize how bad or uncomfortable something is.

For teachers: used as an intensifier to emphasize a negative quality or an extreme degree of discomfort.

- It was horribly hot in the small room with no windows.
- The silence in the courtroom was horribly tense as the jury prepared to deliver their final verdict on the high-profile case.

## Examples

- The movie ended horribly.
- The experiment went horribly wrong, resulting in a small fire that destroyed the laboratory equipment.
- The witness described the scene horribly, providing graphic details that left the entire courtroom in a state of stunned silence.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.