As many of you will know, it takes a long time to write a book. Words are precious gems that I don’t like deleting, but there are some words that must be left out. Those words are adverbs.
What is an adverb?
An adverb is a part of speech that modifies a word or phrase or qualifies a verb, adjective, or an adverb in relation to time, circumstance, manner and place.
For example, if you look at the picture above you could say: Samantha bravely stood at the edge of cliff and did a yoga pose. The adverb used in this sentence is ‘bravely’. It modifies the word ‘brave’ and qualifies its meaning. Brave meaning to face danger, showing courage. Whereas bravely means showing a willingness to face and endure danger or pain courageously.
List of Adverbs
Below is a list of adverbs I thought you might find useful when you’re writing. See if you can think of any that I’ve left off my list.
- Abnormally
- Abruptly
- Absently
- Accidentally
- Accusingly
- Actually
- Adventurously
- Adversely
- Afterwards
- Almost
- Always
- Amazingly
- Angrily
- Anxiously
- Arrogantly
- Awkwardly
- Badly
- Bashfully
- Beautifully
- Bitterly
- Bleakly
- Blindly
- Blissfully
- Boldly
- Bravely
- Briefly
- Brightly
- Briskly
- Broadly
- Busily
- Calmly
- Carefully
- Carelessly
- Cautiously
- Certainly
- Cheerfully
- Clearly
- Cleverly
- Closely
- Coaxingly
- Commonly
- Continually
- Coolly
- Correctly
- Courageously
- Crossly
- Cruelly
- Curiously
- Daily
- Daintily
- Daringly
- Dearly
- Deceivingly
- Deeply
- Deliberately
- Delightfully
- Desperately
- Determinedly
- Diligently
- Doubtfully
- Dreamily
- Eagerly
- Easily
- Elegantly
- Energetically
- Enormously
- Equally
- Especially
- Even
- Eventually
- Exactly
- Excitedly
- Extremely
- Fairly
- Famously
- Far
- Fast
- Fatally
- Ferociously
- Fervently
- Fiercely
- Fondly
- Foolishly
- Fortunately
- Frankly
- Frantically
- Freely
- Frightfully
- Fully
- Furiously
- Generally
- Generously
- Gently
- Gladly
- Gracefully
- Gratefully
- Greatly
- Greedily
- Happily
- Hard
- Harshly
- Hastily
- Heartily
- Heavily
- Helpfully
- Helplessly
- Here
- Highly
- Honestly
- Hopelessly
- Hungrily
- Hurriedly
- Immediately
- Inadequately
- Increasingly
- Innocently
- Inquisitively
- Instantly
- Intensely
- Interestingly
- Inwardly
- Irritably
- Jealously
- Jovially
- Joyfully
- Joyously
- Jubilantly
- Justly
- Keenly
- Kiddingly
- Kindly
- Knavishly
- Knowingly
- Knowledgeably
- Lazily
- Less
- Lightly
- Likely
- Lively
- Loftily
- Longingly
- Loosely
- Loudly
- Lovingly
- Loyally
- Madly
- Majestically
- Meaningfully
- Mechanically
- Merrily
- Miserably
- Mockingly
- More
- Mortally
- Mysteriously
- Naturally
- Nearly
- Nervously
- Never
- Nicely
- Noisily
- Obediently
- Oddly
- Offensively
- Officially
- Only
- Openly
- Optimistically
- Painfully
- Patiently
- Perfectly
- Physically
- Playfully
- Politely
- Poorly
- Potentially
- Powerfully
- Promptly
- Properly
- Proudly
- Punctually
- Quaintly
- Queerly
- Questionably
- Quicker
- Quickly
- Quietly
- Quirkily
- Quizzically
- Rapidly
- Rarely
- Ravenously
- Readily
- Really
- Reassuringly
- Recklessly
- Regularly
- Reluctantly
- Repeatedly
- Restfully
- Righteously
- Rightfully
- Roughly
- Rudely
- Sadly
- Safely
- Scarcely
- Searchingly
- Seemingly
- Seldom
- Selfishly
- Seriously
- Shakily
- Sharply
- Sheepishly
- Shrilly
- Shyly
- Silently
- Sleepily
- Slowly
- Smoothly
- Softly
- Solemnly
- Sometimes
- Soon
- Speedily
- Stealthily
- Sternly
- Strictly
- Stubbornly
- Stupidly
- Suddenly
- Supposedly
- Surprisingly
- Suspiciously
- Sweetly
- Swiftly
- Sympathetically
- Tensely
- Terribly
- Thankfully
- Thoroughly
- Thoughtfully
- Tightly
- Tomorrow
- Tonight
- Too
- Tremendously
- Truly
- Truthfully
- Ultimately
- Unaccountably
- Unbearably
- Understandingly
- Unexpectedly
- Unfortunately
- Unhappily
- Unnecessarily
- Unwillingly
- Upbeat
- Upright
- Upward
- Urgently
- Usefully
- Uselessly
- Usually
- Vacantly
- Vaguely
- Vainly
- Valiantly
- Vastly
- Verbally
- Viciously
- Victoriously
- Violently
- Vivaciously
- Voluntarily
- Warmly
- Wearily
- Well
- Wetly
- Wholly
- Wildly
- Wisely
- Wonderfully
- Wrongly
- Yearly
- Youthfully
I hope this list helps you with your writing.
Until next time, stay safe.
M.A. Quigley 
What a list! I usually think of adverbs as -ly words, but you came up with several that don’t end that way. I have a writer friend whose publisher insisted on having the word “wetly” in one of her books. Not only did she hate it and still talks about it to this day, but she swore it wasn’t even a real word. I do use adverbs in my writing, but far less than I used to. Great post!
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Thanks, Amy. I don’t like the word ‘wetly’ and have never used it.
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