Collocations 4: Intensifying adverbs 1

Highly is used with some probability words (likely, unusual). With the exception of highly controversial it usually combines with very positive words

Extremely won’t be used with adjective recommended

Absolutely and (slightly more formal) utterly combine with adjectives with very extreme meanings where we can’t use very. For example, we say absolutely/utterly exhausted, not very exhausted, whereas we say very tired, but not absolutely or utterly tired. Often, but not always, these words have negative connotations

Bitterly carries a feeling of deep sadness; used slightly more in writing than in conversation

Deeply collocates mainly with words associated with feelings; used slightly more in writing than in conversation

Ridiculously suggests something extreme, which seems unbelievable or unreasonable

Strongly collocates with verbs, particularly verbs that relate to having an opinion