wildly

Wildly is an English adverb describing actions performed in a wild, untamed, or uncontrolled manner, or to a great extent. It modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs in a sentence, signaling high intensity, irregularity, or exuberance. For example, “The crowd cheered wildly,” “Prices rose wildly during the crisis,” or “The rumor circulated wildly.” When used with adjectives, wildly functions as a degree adverb: “wildly optimistic” or “wildly inaccurate.”

The word is formed from the adjective wild with the adverbial suffix -ly; its use dates back to the Middle English period. As with many -ly adverbs, its primary function is to describe manner, but it can also convey the degree of an attribute in a more emphatic way.

In usage, wildly can carry positive, negative, or neutral connotations depending on context. It can describe energetic or enthusiastic behavior, as in performance or celebration, or indicate excess, disorder, or irrationality, as in spreads or actions that occur without restraint.

Common collocations include wildly enthusiastic, wildly inaccurate, wildly successful, and wildly divergent. In formal writing, the adverb should be used judiciously, as overly strong or sensational usage can seem subjective or opinionated; in neutral prose, it serves to convey intensity or scale without detailing mechanisms. See also related adverbs such as frenetically, chaotically, or recklessly for similar emphases in describing behavior or outcomes.