Deeply vs Thoroughly

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Deeply

Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb

Thoroughly

Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
 DeeplyThoroughly
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˈdiːpli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdiːpli/"]/🇬🇧 /["/ˈθʌrəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈθɜːrəli/"]/
MeaningIn a strong or serious way.In a detailed and complete way.
ExampleShe felt deeply moved by the speech.We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelB2B2
Part of speechadverbadverb
Collocationsdeeply concerned, deeply rooted, deeply moved, deeply involvedthoroughly enjoy, thoroughly check, thoroughly understand, thoroughly investigate, thoroughly cleanse
Antonymssuperficially, shallowlysuperficially, partially, incompletely
Common mistakesUsing 'deeply' with wrong adverbs (e.g., 'deeply quick')., Confusing 'deeply' with 'deep' as an adjective., Overusing in informal conversations where simpler words like 'very' are more natural.Using 'through' instead of 'thoroughly'., Confusing it with 'thorough', which is an adjective., Misplacing it in a sentence or using it in informal contexts.
Usage notesUsed to emphasize feelings or thoughts. Appropriate in both spoken and written contexts. Avoid in overly casual settings.Use this word to describe actions done completely and carefully. It's suitable in both speaking and writing. Avoid in casual conversations where simpler words like 'really' or 'very' may be more common.

Frequently asked questions: Deeply vs Thoroughly

What's the difference between Deeply and Thoroughly?

Deeply: In a strong or serious way. Thoroughly: In a detailed and complete way.

Are Deeply and Thoroughly the same CEFR level?

Deeply: B2, Thoroughly: B2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Deeply and Thoroughly?

Deeply: adverb, Thoroughly: adverb.

Can you show an example of each?

Deeply: She felt deeply moved by the speech. Thoroughly: We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Can I use Deeply and Thoroughly interchangeably?

Not always. Deeply and Thoroughly 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.