What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
miserably
Example
She failed the test miserably and felt terrible. [miserably: adverb]
Example
The weather was miserably hot and humid all day. [miserably: adverb]
Example
He was working miserably at his dead-end job. [miserably: adverb]
woefully
Example
The team played woefully and lost the game. [woefully: adverb]
Example
She sang woefully out of tune and embarrassed herself. [woefully: adverb]
Example
The company was woefully unprepared for the sudden increase in demand. [woefully: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Miserably is more commonly used than woefully in everyday language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between miserably and woefully?
Both miserably and woefully are relatively formal words that may not be commonly used in casual conversation. However, miserably may be slightly more versatile and can be used in a wider range of contexts than woefully.
