What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
awfully
Example
The food at that restaurant was awfully bland. [awfully: adverb]
Example
I felt awfully tired after staying up all night. [awfully: adverb]
exceedingly
Example
The view from the top of the mountain was exceedingly beautiful. [exceedingly: adverb]
Example
She is an exceedingly talented musician. [exceedingly: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Awfully is more commonly used than exceedingly in everyday language, especially in informal contexts. Awfully is often used in casual conversations to express a high degree of something negative. On the other hand, exceedingly is less common and tends to be used in more formal or literary contexts to emphasize a positive quality or characteristic.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between awfully and exceedingly?
While awfully is associated with a casual and informal tone, exceedingly is more formal and less commonly used in everyday language. Exceedingly can be used in formal writing or when expressing something of exceptional quality or superiority.
