Execrably

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a manner that is overwhelmingly unpleasant or loathsome
2. Done or experienced in a way that is extremely unpleasant or offensive
3. Performed with such poor quality or unpleasantness that it causes strong dislike

Etymology: Execrably is simply execrable plus the adverbial suffix -ly, and the suffix has a long pedigree of its own. It descends from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "body" or "form," which passed into Proto-Germanic as a word for "body" or "shape." In Old English, a related element became "-līċe," used to turn adjectives into adverbs, and it softened over the centuries into the Middle English "-ly" we use today. Execrable itself is the stronger half of the pairing. It comes from the Latin "execrabilis," meaning accursed or detestable, built from "exsecrari" to curse or call down evil upon someone. Execrably therefore means "in a manner deserving curses," so its literal sense is closer to "accursedly" than to the mild "badly" of everyday speech.

Synonyms: abominably, atrociously, horribly, terribly, appallingly

Antonyms: admirably, commendably, excellently, wonderfully, superbly