in the worst way

superlative form only

1. CanadaUSidiomaticUrgently; desperately; to an extreme degree.

   I need a drink of water in the worst way.

   3 more examples

   Man, I need a life in the worst way.

   2008 March 17, Kady O'Malley, “Wake me up when it’s — what’s the opposite of ‘over’?”, in Macleans, Canada, retrieved 27 Dec 2016

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

   2010 February 11, T. Coraghessan Boyle, “Excerpt: Wild Child”, in New York Times, 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.

   2012 May 25, Hunter Felt, “NBA playoffs preview”, in Guardian, UK, retrieved 27 Dec 2016

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see in, the, worst, way.

   Synonyms: something awful