mightily
gb/mˈaɪtəli/ us/mˈaɪtəli/
B2
English
~ 8200
Senses
0 senses
adverb
B2
property
1
very; extremely (degree adverb)
Very; extremely, used to show a strong feeling or reaction.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is mightily [adjective]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "mightily" is directly related to the modal verb "might" and use it to talk about possibility (e.g., *"It mightily rain"*). This is incorrect; "mightily" is an adverb of degree like "very" or "extremely" and is used before adjectives or past participles describing strong reactions (e.g., "mightily impressed").
Synonyms
extremely (The most common neutral intensifier; slightly more formal and colorless than "mightily".)
|
very (The basic everyday intensifier; "mightily" often sounds stronger or more colorful.)
|
hugely (Informal, often used with positive or dramatic reactions, similar strength to "mightily".)
Antonyms
slightly (Shows only a small degree, the opposite of the strong intensity in "mightily".)
|
mildly (Suggests a weak or gentle degree of feeling, contrasting with the strength of "mightily".)
Collocations
mightily impressed
|mightily pleased
|mightily relieved
|mightily annoyed
|mightily proud
|mightily confused
Themes
communication
|emotions
|evaluation
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I was mightily impressed by her presentation.
- The team was mightily relieved when the storm passed them by.
- He looked mightily pleased with himself after winning the debate.
- Investors are mightily concerned about the sudden drop in sales.
- She was mightily annoyed by the constant interruptions.
Learner examples
- I was mightily surprised by the news.
- She is mightily proud of her children.
- They were mightily happy with the final result.
- My teacher was mightily pleased with my project.
- The manager is mightily worried about the delay.
adverb
B2
property
2
with great effort or power
With very strong effort or force, especially when something is hard to do.
Usage pattern:
[someone] [verb] mightily
Common mistake:
Learners may treat "mightily" like a verb and say *"He mightily the door"*. It must modify a verb or adjective, not act as a verb itself: "He pushed mightily" or "He tried mightily." Some also overuse it in very formal writing, where "greatly" or "significantly" may sound more natural.
Synonyms
vigorously (Focuses on energetic, active effort; slightly more formal and less emotional than "mightily".)
|
powerfully (Emphasizes physical or metaphorical strength more than effort.)
|
strenuously (More formal; highlights effort and difficulty rather than the dramatic tone of "mightily".)
Antonyms
weakly (Shows a lack of strength or energy, the opposite of the strong effort in "mightily".)
|
halfheartedly (Suggests low effort or enthusiasm, contrasting with the intense effort of "mightily".)
Collocations
struggled mightily
|fought mightily
|worked mightily
|pushed mightily
|resisted mightily
|strove mightily
Themes
physical_actions
|sports
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She pushed mightily, but the door still would not open.
- The small company has fought mightily to stay in business.
- He struggled mightily to lift the heavy box onto the truck.
- They worked mightily to finish the project before the deadline.
- The team defended mightily in the final minutes of the game.
Learner examples
- He worked mightily to pass the exam.
- They fought mightily to save their home.
- She pulled mightily, but the rope did not move.
- The players tried mightily to win the match.
- We struggled mightily to move the table upstairs.
Grammar
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.