appallingly

/ə'pɔ:liɳli/

Thân thiện

The conditions in the camp were appallingly unsanitary.

Definition

Adverb: 1. To a shocking or horrifying degree: Used to describe something that is extremely bad, unpleasant, or disturbing in nature or extent. 2. Extremely badly; in a very poor or inadequate manner: Used to emphasize the very low quality or poor performance of something.

Usage

The adverb "appallingly" is used to modify adjectives, verbs, or other adverbs to intensify their meaning to a negative extreme. It conveys a strong sense of shock, disapproval, or dismay.

Examples

• The conditions in the refugee camp were appallingly overcrowded.
• He behaved appallingly at the formal dinner, insulting several guests.
• The team played appallingly and lost by a huge margin.
• She was appallingly rude to the customer service representative.

Advanced Usage

• "appallingly + adjective": This is the most common structure, intensifying a negative quality.
  • The film was appallingly violent.
  • His ignorance on the subject is appallingly obvious.
• "appallingly + adverb": Used to intensify how an action is performed.
  • The project was appallingly badly managed from the start.

Variants and Related Words

• Appalling (adjective): Causing shock, horror, or dismay.
  • The appalling lack of clean water led to disease.
• Appall (verb, transitive): To greatly dismay or horrify.
  • The news of the tragedy appalled the nation.

Synonyms

• Horrifyingly: In a way that causes horror.
• Shockingly: In a way that causes surprise and dismay.
• Outrageously: To an extreme and unacceptable degree.
• Dreadfully: In a terrible manner; extremely.
• Abysmally: Very badly; deplorably (often used for quality or performance).

Antonyms

• Wonderfully
• Superbly
• Admirably
• Excellently

Notes on Meaning

The core meaning of "appallingly" relates to causing a feeling of appall—a strong reaction of shock, horror, or moral outrage. While it is often used interchangeably with words like "extremely" or "very" in informal contexts, it retains this connotation of being morally or sensibly shocking. For example, "appallingly expensive" suggests more than just high cost; it implies the cost is shockingly and unreasonably high.

Học thuật

Adverb

1. to an appalling extent
   • the prisoners were appallingly thin