absolutely awful

USAGE SUMMARY

Absolutely awful is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe an event or situation that you consider to be very bad or unsatisfactory. For example, "I was so disappointed with the food at the restaurant; it was absolutely awful."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It's absolutely awful".

The New York Times

How absolutely awful.

Independent

This is absolutely awful.

The Guardian - Sport

It's just absolutely awful".

The New York Times - Arts

Absolutely awful," he said.

The Guardian

Closing "was absolutely awful.

The Guardian - Business

Absolutely awful things".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"My own was absolutely awful, shamefully bad.

Independent

She was a terrible driver, absolutely awful.

The Guardian - Books

It was absolutely fantastic and absolutely awful.

The New Yorker

"It was absolutely awful," Dr. Blackmar said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "absolutely awful" to express strong disapproval or disgust. It is particularly effective when emphasizing a negative experience or outcome.

Common error

While "absolutely awful" is acceptable in many situations, avoid using it in highly formal writing or professional communications where a more nuanced or moderate tone is required. Instead, opt for phrases like "extremely unfavorable" or "highly unsatisfactory".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "absolutely awful" primarily functions as an intensifying adjective phrase. It modifies a noun by expressing a strong negative attribute. As Ludwig AI confirms, this expression is grammatically correct and widely used in English. Examples from Ludwig show it describing experiences, performances, and situations deemed highly undesirable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "absolutely awful" is a common and effective way to express strong negative feelings or judgment. Grammatically correct and widely used, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, it functions as an intensifying adjective phrase suitable for neutral to informal contexts. While its use is pervasive in news and media, more formal alternatives might be preferable in professional or academic settings. Be mindful of the level of intensity you wish to convey when employing this phrase. The related phrases offer a variety of nuanced alternatives, while understanding best practices and common errors can further refine your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utterly dreadful

Emphasizes the severe unpleasantness or poor quality of something.

completely terrible

Focuses on the severe negativity or poor quality of something.

totally horrendous

Highlights the shocking or appalling nature of something.

thoroughly atrocious

Stresses the shockingly bad or brutal nature of something.

plain disgusting

Emphasizes the repulsiveness or offensiveness of something.

downright offensive

Highlights the insulting or displeasing nature of something.

simply the worst

Emphasizes the superlative degree of something being bad.

incredibly poor

Focuses on the substandard or inadequate quality of something.

remarkably bad

Highlights the unexpected or noticeable degree of something being poor.

exceptionally disappointing

Emphasizes the failure to meet expectations.

FAQs

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

You can use "absolutely awful" to express strong disapproval or disgust. For instance, "The weather today is absolutely awful", or "The service at that restaurant was absolutely awful".

What are some alternatives to saying "absolutely awful"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "utterly dreadful", "completely terrible", or "totally horrendous".

Is it appropriate to use "absolutely awful" in formal writing?

While "absolutely awful" is widely understood, it may be too informal for certain professional or academic contexts. Consider using more formal alternatives like "extremely unfavorable" or "highly unsatisfactory".

What makes "absolutely awful" different from just saying "awful"?

Adding "absolutely" intensifies the adjective "awful", making the expression stronger and conveying a greater degree of negativity or disapproval.