The superlative adverb for 'badly' is worst.
Understanding Superlative Adverbs
Superlative adverbs are used to compare the actions of three or more things or people, indicating which one performs an action to the highest or lowest degree. While many adverbs form their superlative by adding "most" or "least" before them (e.g., most carefully, least quickly), some common adverbs are irregular and have unique forms.
The Irregular Adverb 'Badly'
The adverb 'badly' is an example of an irregular adverb. This means its comparative and superlative forms do not follow the standard rules of adding '-er' or '-est', or 'more'/'most'. Instead, they change to entirely different words, similar to how irregular verbs behave.
Forms of Irregular Adverbs
Here's how 'badly' and other common irregular adverbs change their form from positive (base form) to comparative (comparing two actions) and superlative (comparing three or more actions):
| Adverb (Positive) | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| badly | worse | worst |
| well | better | best |
| far | farther / further | farthest / furthest |
| little | less | least |
As you can see from the table, 'badly' transforms into 'worse' for the comparative degree and 'worst' for the superlative degree.
Using 'Worst' in Sentences
When you want to express that someone or something performs an action to the absolute lowest degree or in the most unsatisfactory manner among a group, you use 'worst'.
Here are some examples of 'worst' in action:
- "Of all the musicians, he played the violin worst during the audition." (Comparing his playing to all other musicians)
- "She cooks worst when she's stressed, burning everything." (Indicating her lowest cooking performance)
- "The team performed worst in the final quarter, losing their lead." (Highlighting their most unsatisfactory performance period)
- "Among all the applicants, he responded to the questions worst, showing little preparation." (Describing the lowest quality of response among all)
Key Takeaways
The superlative form of the adverb 'badly' is worst. It is an irregular adverb, meaning its forms (badly, worse, worst) must be memorized rather than following a rule. Using 'worst' correctly helps to precisely convey the lowest degree of an action in a comparison of three or more subjects.
