ENGLISH
REFERENCE

terminally

adv. manner
C1 Advanced US //ˈtɝmənəɫi// UK //tˈɜːmɪnəli// ter·mi·nal·ly

adv. in a way that cannot be cured and will lead to death. It can also describe something that is failing completely and cannot be fixed.

adv. in a manner that is incurable or fatal; in an extreme or final state of decline.


SIMPLE

The patient is terminally ill and needs comfort care.

CONTEXTUAL

After years of mismanagement, the local factory was terminally unprofitable and had to close its doors.

COMPLEX

While some analysts hoped for a recovery, the political movement appeared terminally fractured, with its core members unable to agree on even the most basic policy goals.

Origin

From terminal + -ly.

Usage

Commonly modifies adjectives like 'ill', 'unprofitable', or 'boring' to indicate an irreversible state.

Pitfall

He is terminal illHe is terminally illLearners often use the adjective 'terminal' instead of the adverb 'terminally' to modify another adjective.

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