Definition

Adverb: * In a manner that causes great pleasure and enjoyment; charmingly or enchantingly.

Usage

• Modifying an adjective: "Delightfully" is most commonly used to modify an adjective, intensifying it to mean "in a way that is very [adjective] and pleasing."
  • The evening was delightfully cool.
  • She is a delightfully eccentric character.
• Modifying a verb: It can also modify a verb to describe how an action is performed.
  • The children played delightfully in the garden.
  • He sang delightfully.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "Delightfully + [negative quality]": Sometimes used ironically or humorously with a word that is typically negative, to suggest the quality is actually charming or amusing in context.
  • His plans are often delightfully chaotic.
  • She has a delightfully terrible sense of direction.

Variants and Related Words

• Delightful (adjective): Giving great pleasure; charming.
  • We had a delightful time at the party.
• Delight (noun/verb): Great pleasure (noun); to please someone greatly (verb).
  • The news filled them with delight (noun).
  • Her performance delighted the audience (verb).

Synonyms

• Charmingly
• Enchantingly
• Pleasantly
• Enjoyably
• Lovely (as an adverb in informal use, e.g., "The room was lovely decorated.")

Antonyms

• Unpleasantly
• Disagreeably
• Awfully
• Dreadfully

Adverb

1. in a delightful manner
   • the farm house, though in itself a small one, is delightfully situated