Cool MateExtremely vs Wildly
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Extremely
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adverb
Wildly
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Extremely
| Extremely | Wildly | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪkˈstriːmli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪkˈstriːmli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈwaɪldli//🇺🇸 //ˈwaɪldli// |
| Meaning | Very much; to a very high degree. | In a very extreme and uncontrolled way. |
| Example | She was extremely happy about her exam results. | The children laughed wildly as they played in the park. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | extremely happy, extremely difficult, extremely important, extremely cold, extremely fast | wildly enthusiastic, wildly inappropriate, wildly successful, wildly popular |
| Antonyms | slightly, moderately | calmly, gently, moderately |
| Common mistakes | Using 'extremely' with nouns, e.g., 'extremely happy person' instead of 'extremely happy'., Confusing 'extremely' with similar adverbs like 'really' for less intense expressions., Placing 'extremely' incorrectly in a sentence, altering the meaning. | Confused with 'wildly' vs 'wild' - 'wild' is an adjective., 'Wildly' used in formal contexts - better suited for informal use., Overusing 'wildly' instead of using specific adjectives. |
| Usage notes | Use 'extremely' to emphasize adjectives or adverbs. Appropriate in both spoken and written English, but avoid in casual contexts where simpler terms like 'really' may suffice. | Used to describe actions or behaviors that are done in an extreme manner. Appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but avoid in formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Extremely vs Wildly
What's the difference between Extremely and Wildly?
Extremely: Very much; to a very high degree. Wildly: In a very extreme and uncontrolled way.
Which is more common: Extremely and Wildly?
Extremely is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Extremely: She was extremely happy about her exam results. Wildly: The children laughed wildly as they played in the park.
Can I use Extremely and Wildly interchangeably?
Not always. Extremely and Wildly are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.