Terrifically
adv.joyful, capableeveryday
What it means
To an exceptionally good or impressive degree.
Reach for it when adding lively emphasis to how well something works or is done
The repaired ventilation system performed terrifically during the heatwave.
Choose between these
7- everyday
when cleverness or striking success deserves emphasis
not when Brilliantly can imply ingenuity that the result did not require.
- warm
when the result brings pleasure as well as quality
not when Wonderfully can praise an experience without proving technical performance.
- professional
excellently
when superior performance should sound measured
not when Excellently is formal and less natural in casual celebration.
- professional
when the degree stands out from expectations
not when Remarkably can introduce a bad or neutral observation, so it does not itself mean well.
- formal
admirably
when conduct merits moral or professional respect
not when Admirably judges worth rather than sheer effectiveness or enjoyment.
- formal
when execution is exceptionally polished
not when Superbly sounds grand for an ordinary improvement.
- literary
when deliberately old-fashioned exuberance suits
not when Splendidly draws attention to the writer and can sound comic unintentionally.
Said against
3- poorly
- badly
- disappointingly
It naturally appears in
3- work terrifically
The smaller pump continued to work terrifically after the filter change.
- terrifically well
The two materials bonded terrifically well under repeated stress.
- perform terrifically
New volunteers can perform terrifically when the handover is clear.
Where this comes from
- Wiktionary, English adverb informal sense: extremely well opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.