sweatily
/ˈswɛt.ɪ.li/ IELTSAcademic
adverb
In a way that makes sweat visible or that shows a lot of sweating. It can also mean with nervous effort, strain, or heat.
- He smiled sweatily after the long run.
- She wiped her sweatily held hands on her jeans.
- The players stood sweatily in the afternoon heat.
Adinary Nuance
Sweatily is more literal than nervously or heavily. It points to sweat on the body, or to a tired, hot, strained feeling. Writers use it when the sweating itself matters, not just the emotion behind it.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- đổ mồ hôi
- Spanish
- sudorosamente
- Chinese
- 冒汗地
- Japanese
- 汗だくで
- Korean
- 땀을 흘리며
Etymology
From sweat + -ily, with the adverb ending used in English since Middle English. It became a natural descriptive word for actions done while sweating.
Common phrases
sweatily breathingsweatily holdingsweatily smiling
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is sweatily a common word in everyday English?
- No, it is understandable, but people use it less often than phrases like “in a sweaty way.”
- What is the difference between sweatily and nervously?
- Sweatily describes sweat or heat. Nervously describes fear, tension, or worry.
- Can I use sweatily in formal writing?
- Yes, but it sounds descriptive and literary. It is not common in business writing.