disgustingly

IPA/dɪsˈɡʌstɪŋli/
IPA/dɪsˈɡʌstɪŋli/

disgustingly — adverb

1. causing an intense feeling of repulsion or strong disapproval in those who encou

1.adverbB2
Definition

causing an intense feeling of repulsion or strong disapproval in those who encounter it

Example

The kitchen was disgustingly dirty, with old food stuck to every surface.

collocation: disgustingly dirty (extreme dirt provoking revulsion)

The hotel mattress was disgustingly stained with old coffee and pet hair.

collocation: disgustingly stained (negative adjective describing filth)

Common collocations
  • disgustingly dirty
  • disgustingly rude
  • disgustingly behaved
  • disgustingly filthy
Synonyms
  • revoltingly

    stronger emphasis on physical revulsion, especially taste or smell

  • repulsively

    slightly more formal, often about appearance or behaviour

Grammar Patterns

disgustingly + verb

disgustingly + [negative adjective]

Usage Note

Frequently used with verbs of perception (smell, taste, look) and with negative adjectives describing physical conditions. Unlike sense 2, this sense carries no tone of envy — only genuine repulsion.

Common Mistakes

The food tasted disgustingly' (meaning the food was disgusting).
The food tasted disgusting.
'disgustingly' is an adverb; to describe what the food itself is like, use the adjective 'disgusting' after a linking verb.

2. used to emphasise that a desirable quality is present to such an extreme degree

2.adverbB2
Definition

used to emphasise that a desirable quality is present to such an extreme degree that others are likely to feel envious

Example

Yusuf is disgustingly talented — he plays five instruments and speaks four languages fluently.

disgustingly + positive adjective (talented) expressing mock envy

The Lakan family bought a disgustingly huge house with its own cinema and pool.

Common collocations
  • disgustingly rich
  • disgustingly talented
  • disgustingly lucky
  • disgustingly perfect
  • disgustingly beautiful
  • disgustingly generous
Synonyms
  • outrageously

    similar intensifier but can be positive or negative; less emotional

  • insanely

    very informal, simply means 'extremely' without the envy nuance

Grammar Patterns

disgustingly + [positive adjective]

Usage Note

This sense is informal and often used humorously or with pretend annoyance rather than real anger. The adjective it modifies must describe something subjectively desirable (rich, talented, lucky, beautiful, perfect). It is NOT used with genuinely negative adjectives: 'disgustingly ugly' would be understood as sense 1 (literal disgust), not as envy.

Common Mistakes

The weather was disgustingly cold' (if you mean annoyingly cold).
The weather was disgustingly warm in January while the rest of the country froze.
Sense 2 only works for qualities that are desirable in context; neutral weather is not a desirable quality that others would envy.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/2

All four adverbs intensify a quality to an extreme degree, but each carries a distinct tone. 'Disgustingly' uniquely implies the speaker's envy or resentment — you would not use it about a quality you yourself possess. 'Outrageously' is more neutral and can describe positive or negative extremes ('outrageously expensive' vs 'outrageously generous'). 'Insanely' is very informal and simply means 'extremely' with no moral or emotional judgment ('insanely good pizza'). 'Ridiculously' focuses on the implausibility of the degree ('ridiculously cheap flights'). For example: 'His family is disgustingly rich' suggests the speaker wishes they had that wealth, while 'His family is ridiculously rich' suggests the amount is absurdly high.

disgustingly ↗outrageously ↗insanely ↗ridiculously

Common collocations

Phrases

  • disgustingly rich
  • disgustingly talented
  • disgustingly lucky
  • disgustingly perfect
  • disgustingly dirty
  • disgustingly filthy

Etymology

Old FrenchFrenchEnglish

Formed in English from 'disgust' (from Old French 'desgouster', meaning 'to lose one's appetite', from 'des-' (reversing) + 'gouster' (to taste)) plus the adverbial suffix '-ingly'. The figurative sense of 'enviably extreme' emerged in informal English in the early 20th century, shifting from literal physical revulsion to a humorous tone of mock envy.