Pronunciation: [ɐbˈɪsmə͡li] (IPA) 
The word "abysmally" can be tricky to spell. It is pronounced /əˈbɪzməli/, with the stress on the second syllable. The "y" in the word is often the source of confusion, as it follows a consonant cluster of "b" and "s". It is spelled with a "y" to represent the sound /ɪ/ that follows the consonant cluster. While the spelling may be challenging, the meaning of the word is clear: it describes something extremely bad or poorly done.
Abysmally is an adverb derived from the adjective abysmal. It is used to describe something that is extremely bad, inadequate, or poorly performed. The term implies a deep sense of disappointment or dissatisfaction.
When used in the context of performance or achievement, abysmally signifies a level of incompetence or failure that falls far below expectations or even basic standards. It suggests that something has been done in an exceptionally poor manner, resulting in a highly unsatisfactory outcome. For instance, one may say that a student performed abysmally on an exam if they obtained a significantly low score or failed to demonstrate a sufficient understanding of the subject matter.
In a broader sense, abysmally can be used to describe situations or conditions that are profoundly negative or distressing. For example, if someone says they feel abysmally lonely, it indicates an overwhelming sense of isolation and sadness. Similarly, abysmal living conditions may imply extreme poverty or deprivation.
Overall, abysmally is a word that conveys a strong sense of disappointment, failure, or extremity. It is often used to emphasize the gravity of a negative situation or the poor quality of an action or outcome.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word abysmally is derived from the root abysmal, which is ultimately derived from the noun abyss. The noun abyss entered English in the late 16th century from the Latin term abyssus, which means bottomless. This Latin term can be traced back to the Greek word abyssos, meaning bottomless, unfathomable, which is a combination of a-, meaning without, and byssos, meaning depth. The suffix -al is then added to the adjective abysmal to form the adverb abysmally, meaning in an extremely bad or dreadful manner.
