in the worst way

in the worst way (not comparable)

1. (chiefly US and Canada, idiomatic) Urgently; desperately; to an extreme degree.

   I need a drink of water in the worst way.

   • 2008 March 17, Kady O'Malley, "Wake me up when it’s — what’s the opposite of ‘over’?," Macleans (Canada) (retrieved 27 Dec 2016):

     Man, I need a life in the worst way.

   • 2010 Feb. 11, T. Coraghessan Boyle, "Excerpt: Wild Child," New York Times (retrieved 27 Dec 2016):

     I wanted this to work in the worst way because my reputation was on the line here. . . .

   • 2012 May 25, Hunter Felt, "NBA playoffs preview," Guardian (UK) (retrieved 27 Dec 2016):

     Stern as well as assorted television executives needed a game seven in the worst way, and "the worst way" might be how they're getting one.

2. Used other than with a figurative or idiomatic meaning: see in,‎ the,‎ worst,‎ way.

• something awful

• in the worst way at OneLook Dictionary Search