absolutely frightful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "absolutely frightful" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is extremely scary or unpleasant. Example: "The horror movie was absolutely frightful, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

The school was absolutely frightful.

The Guardian

"It's been absolutely frightful to see the divide between regular folks and the richest-of-the-rich.

The Guardian

Writing the president, Washburne sounded the alarm: "The robberies, the frauds, the peculiarities in the government which have already come to our knowledge are absolutely frightful".

The New York Times

Absolutely frightful Chips with everything The fireman's lot is quite a happy one Evidence on tap Ticks in the wrong box Reprints Related items Scottish economy: Funny old recessionAug 22nd 2002He is right.

The Economist

Absolutely frightful Chips with everything The fireman's lot is quite a happy one Evidence on tap Ticks in the wrong box ReprintsFirefighters do come quite low down in the public-sector pay league (see chart).

The Economist

Absolutely frightful Chips with everything The fireman's lot is quite a happy one Evidence on tap Ticks in the wrong box ReprintsSome of this can be put down to corporate rivalry.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Fright wigs, frightening women and frightful acting.

The New York Times

How frightful!

Independent

Those frightful Karinska tutus!

The New York Times

They are frightful places.

The New Yorker

They sound frightful.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "absolutely frightful", consider the context to ensure the intensity of the phrase matches the situation. It's best suited for situations that genuinely evoke a strong sense of fear or unpleasantness.

Common error

Avoid using "absolutely frightful" to describe mildly unpleasant situations. Overusing strong language can dilute its impact when describing genuinely serious or scary scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "absolutely frightful" is to act as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. The adverb "absolutely" intensifies the adjective "frightful", emphasizing the extreme degree of unpleasantness or scariness. Ludwig confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "absolutely frightful" is a grammatically sound adjectival phrase used to express a strong sense of unpleasantness or scariness. As indicated by Ludwig, it's most commonly found in News & Media contexts. While generally neutral in register, it's essential to use it judiciously to avoid overstatement. Consider alternatives like "utterly dreadful" or "completely horrifying" to fine-tune the specific nuance. Avoid overuse in mild situations to preserve its impact when describing genuinely serious or scary scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utterly dreadful

Replaces "frightful" with "dreadful", emphasizing the poor quality or unpleasant nature.

completely horrifying

Substitutes "frightful" with "horrifying", highlighting the shocking and disturbing aspect.

absolutely appalling

Replaces "frightful" with "appalling", focusing on the shocking and morally offensive nature.

totally ghastly

Uses "ghastly" instead of "frightful", implying a strong sense of horror and disgust.

absolutely terrible

Employs "terrible" instead of "frightful", indicating something very bad or unpleasant.

utterly terrifying

Replaces "frightful" with "terrifying", emphasizing the fear-inducing quality.

completely awful

Substitutes "frightful" with "awful", describing something extremely bad or disagreeable.

absolutely atrocious

Replaces "frightful" with "atrocious", denoting something shockingly bad or brutal.

totally alarming

Uses "alarming" instead of "frightful", emphasizing the sense of danger or worry.

completely dreadful

Substitute frightful for dreadful

FAQs

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

You can use "absolutely frightful" to describe something extremely unpleasant or scary. For example: "The experience was absolutely frightful, and I never want to repeat it."

What are some alternatives to "absolutely frightful"?

Alternatives include "utterly dreadful", "completely horrifying", or "absolutely appalling", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "absolutely frightful" formal or informal?

"Absolutely frightful" is generally considered neutral in terms of formality, suitable for both informal and some formal contexts where a strong expression is warranted.

When is it appropriate to use "absolutely frightful"?

It is appropriate to use "absolutely frightful" when you want to emphasize the extreme unpleasantness, scariness, or shocking nature of something. Make sure the situation warrants such strong language to avoid overstatement.