Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
If you say that someone or something is ~, you dislike that person or thing or you think that they are not very good.
We met and I thought he was ~...
...an ~ smell of paint...
Even if the weather’s ~ there’s lots to do...
Jeans look ~ on me.
= dreadful
? wonderful
ADJ
~ness
The programme’s ~ness has ensured it is talked about.
N-UNCOUNT
2.
If you say that something is ~, you mean that it is extremely unpleasant, shocking, or bad.
Her injuries were massive. It was ~...
Some of their offences are so ~ they would chill the blood.
= horrific
ADJ
3.
If you look or feel ~, you look or feel ill.
I hardly slept at all and felt pretty ~...
= terrible
ADJ: v-link ADJ
4.
You can use ~ with noun groups that refer to an amount in order to emphasize how large that amount is.
I’ve got an ~ lot of work to do.
= tremendous
ADJ: ADJ n emphasis
~ly
Would you mind ~ly waiting a bit, I’ll be back right away.
= terribly
ADV: usu ADV adj/adv
5.
You can use ~ with adjectives that describe a quality in order to emphasize that particular quality. (AM INFORMAL)
Gosh, you’re ~ pretty...
= very
ADV: ADV adj emphasis