woefully

/'woufuli/

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Sure! Let's break down the word "woefully."

Definition:

Woefully is an adverb that means in a way that is very sad, unfortunate, or disappointing. When something is described as "woefully" insufficient or inadequate, it means it is much less than what is needed or expected.

Usage Instructions:

You can use "woefully" to describe situations where something is lacking or where there is a strong negative feeling about a condition. It's often used to emphasize how bad or inadequate something is.

Examples:

1. Simple Example: "The team played woefully in the match, losing by several goals."

   • This means the team played very poorly.

2. Advanced Example: "The school's resources for art programs are woefully inadequate, leaving many students without proper materials."

   • Here, it emphasizes that the resources are very insufficient.

Word Variants:

• Woe (noun): A feeling of great sadness or distress.
• Woeful (adjective): Describing something that is very bad or sad.

Different Meanings:

• While "woefully" typically conveys a sense of sadness or inadequacy, it can also imply a lack of seriousness or a lighthearted observation in some contexts (though this is less common).

Synonyms:

• Sadly
• Regrettably
• Pitifully
• Deplorably

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

While there aren't specific idioms or phrasal verbs that include "woefully," you might come across phrases like "woefully unprepared" or "woefully insufficient," which carry the same idea of something being very lacking.

Summary:

In summary, "woefully" is a word you can use to express disappointment or inadequacy in a strong way.

Academic

Adverb

1. in an unfortunate or deplorable manner
   • he was sadly neglected
   • it was woefully inadequate

Synonyms

• deplorably
• lamentably
• sadly