Absolutely unreasonable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Absolutely unreasonable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation, request, or expectation that is completely lacking in reason or justification. Example: "The demands made by the client were absolutely unreasonable, leaving us no choice but to reconsider our agreement."

✓ Grammatically correct

Criminal Law

Christian Theology

Labor Relations

Taxation

Workplace Conditions

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

A defense of "impossibility" is recognized only if the mistake is shown to be absolutely unreasonable.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It's like saying, You have to believe the world is flat to be a Christian, and that's absolutely unreasonable".

The New York Times - Magazine

"The demands are absolutely unreasonable because of the time line and the severity of the cuts within such a short period.

The New York Times

Proposals for selective cuts in tax rates have won support even from the trade unions.Nicola Rossi, a rare liberal in the ruling majority, argues that taxpayers are being saddled "to an absolutely unreasonable extent" with extra bureaucracy.

The Economist

"To receive that news and work an eight-hour shift was absolutely unreasonable," she said.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Charges on Mr. Mir of defaming Pakistan's armed forces and pleasing 'our enemy' are absolutely congruent with this unreasonable mentality of blaming the victim.

Huffington Post

"What Newham is doing is absolutely disgraceful because it's unreasonable to move people 60 miles from their support, particularly if they are single mothers.

BBC

"I think unless there's evidence that she has contracted an infection as a result of that tattoo, then it is unreasonable… We would absolutely encourage women who have had tattoos to breastfeed their babies for as long as they choose to".

Huffington Post

It seems unreasonable, Justice Kagan implied, that "absolutely everything" about you your bank records, your personal photos, your texts, your emails, your GPS data should be accessible to a police officer without a warrant.

The Economist

Though Barra called Lauer's speculation "absolutely not true," Glass said her research suggests Lauer's question was not unreasonable.

Huffington Post

While it seems unreasonable that the transcription of any gene in a living cell is absolutely resistant to cell cycle fluctuations or nutrient status, it is important to identify candidate genes that are at least minimally regulated during the individual experiment to allow the accuracy of RNA transcription analysis that real-time PCR offers.

BMC Plant Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "absolutely unreasonable" when you want to express strong disapproval or disagreement with something because it lacks any logical basis or fairness. Ensure the context warrants such a strong term.

Common error

Avoid using "absolutely unreasonable" in situations that only require a mild expression of disagreement or mild disapproval. The intensity of the phrase can be disproportionate in less serious contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "absolutely unreasonable" functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun, emphasizing the extreme degree to which something lacks reason or justification. Ludwig AI provides examples showing its usage in legal, ethical, and practical contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "absolutely unreasonable" is an adjective phrase used to express a strong sense of disagreement or disapproval due to a complete lack of reason or justification. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correct usage in written English and provides real-world examples from sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. While grammatically sound, its relatively low frequency suggests careful consideration of context is important. As such, ensure the situation warrants such a strong term and be mindful of potentially overstating your disapproval in mild situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utterly preposterous

This alternative uses stronger diction to emphasize the absurdity of something.

completely irrational

This alternative focuses on the lack of logical basis for something.

totally unjustifiable

This phrase highlights the lack of justification or fairness.

entirely unacceptable

This shifts the focus to the unacceptability of something rather than its lack of reason.

patently absurd

This alternative suggests that the absurdity is obvious and easily apparent.

manifestly unfair

This emphasizes the overt lack of fairness or equity.

blatantly illogical

This focuses on the obvious and conspicuous lack of logic.

indefensible behavior

The focus shifts from a statement or idea to the behavior of someone.

beyond all reason

This emphasizes that something exceeds the bounds of what is reasonable.

wholly without merit

This suggests something lacks any value or justification.

FAQs

How can I use "absolutely unreasonable" in a sentence?

You can use "absolutely unreasonable" to describe demands, expectations, or situations that are completely lacking in reason or justification. For example: "The demands made by the client were absolutely unreasonable."

What are some alternatives to "absolutely unreasonable"?

Some alternatives include "utterly preposterous", "completely irrational", or "totally unjustifiable". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "unreasonable" or "absolutely unreasonable"?

The choice depends on the level of emphasis you want to convey. "Unreasonable" is a general term, while "absolutely unreasonable" expresses a stronger degree of disapproval and lack of justification.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "absolutely unreasonable"?

It's appropriate when describing something that goes beyond simply being inconvenient or difficult, but is fundamentally illogical, unfair, or impossible to accept. Use it to convey a sense of strong disagreement and protest.