a dreadful idea

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a dreadful idea" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express strong disapproval or negativity towards a suggestion or plan. Example: "I think we should reconsider our approach; it's really a dreadful idea to proceed without proper research."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Please, what a dreadful idea!

Independent

To effectively abolish the Office of the Trade Representative is a dreadful idea.

The New York Times

I couldn't agree more with Deborah Kenny that evaluating teachers with high-stakes tests is a dreadful idea.

The New York Times

Dr Bruce Baker, a lecturer in American history at Newcastle University, agrees: "The OfS is such a dreadful idea.

The Guardian

"What a dreadful idea," Lincoln Kirstein, City Ballet's co-founder, said when he heard what Balanchine was up to.

The New Yorker

But would they want to lead a party which itself assumes that it will lose the next election Another leadership contest, thus, sounds a dreadful idea.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

The APPG did not take evidence from any current prostitutes or support sex workers' organisations, the vast majority of whom would tell them: this is a fucking dreadful idea.

Vice

A dreadful thought occurs.

The Economist

It's a dreadful thought.

Vice

Idealistic children will swiftly learn to shun the dreadful idea of an artistic career and go into IT instead.

The Guardian

Everyone named their dreadful idea and the team voted on the worst one.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a dreadful idea", ensure the context clearly indicates what makes the idea so undesirable. Providing specific reasons strengthens your critique and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

While "a dreadful idea" is acceptable, avoid overusing it in casual conversation. Simpler alternatives like "a bad idea" might be more appropriate for everyday scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a dreadful idea" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "dreadful" modifies the noun "idea". Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature. It's used to express a strong sense of disapproval.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"A dreadful idea" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to express strong disapproval, as validated by Ludwig AI. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it serves to negatively evaluate a suggestion or plan. While alternatives like "a terrible idea" or "a bad idea" exist, this phrase offers a more emphatic rejection. For best practice, ensure the reason for disapproval is clear, and be mindful of using simpler alternatives in casual settings. Its function is to highlight a strong negative judgement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a terrible idea

Replaces "dreadful" with "terrible", maintaining the sense of strong disapproval but using a more common adjective.

a horrible idea

Substitutes "dreadful" with "horrible", conveying a similar degree of negativity and aversion.

an awful idea

Swaps "dreadful" for "awful", preserving the strong negative connotation but with a slightly different tone.

an appalling idea

Swaps "dreadful" for "appalling", highlighting the shocking or disturbing nature of the idea.

a disastrous idea

Replaces "dreadful" with "disastrous", emphasizing the potential for extremely negative consequences.

a bad idea

Replaces "dreadful" with the more general "bad", softening the intensity of the disapproval.

an ill-conceived idea

Replaces "a dreadful idea" with a more formal and descriptive phrase indicating poor planning or judgment.

a shocking idea

Replaces "dreadful" with "shocking", emphasizing the surprising and unsettling nature of the idea.

a misguided idea

Substitutes "dreadful" with "misguided", focusing on the flawed reasoning behind the idea rather than its overall unpleasantness.

a preposterous idea

Substitutes "dreadful" with "preposterous", suggesting the idea is absurd or ridiculous.

FAQs

What does "a dreadful idea" mean?

The phrase "a dreadful idea" expresses strong disapproval or negativity toward a suggestion, plan, or concept, indicating it is extremely undesirable or flawed.

How can I use "a dreadful idea" in a sentence?

You can use "a dreadful idea" to express your strong disagreement or concern about something. For example, "I think implementing that policy would be "a dreadful idea" because it could negatively impact our employees."

What can I say instead of "a dreadful idea"?

You can use alternatives like "a terrible idea", "a horrible idea", or "a bad idea" depending on the level of negativity you want to express.

Is "a dreadful idea" too strong for everyday conversation?

While grammatically correct, "a dreadful idea" can sound quite strong. In casual conversations, consider using less intense alternatives like "a bad idea" or "a poor idea".