absolutely unhappy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "absolutely unhappy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize a strong feeling of unhappiness or dissatisfaction. Example: "After hearing the news, she felt absolutely unhappy about the situation and couldn't shake off the feeling."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Snowden said that the political storm over his son's actions would fade and added "the American people are absolutely unhappy with what they've learned and more is forthcoming".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Shortly before the Black Sea he chose to land, cold and unhappy.Others failed more absolutely.

The Economist

"Michael would be absolutely upset, he would be so unhappy with what is happening.

The Guardian - Music

"It was an absolutely impossible task, and everybody is unhappy with our proposal.

Science Magazine

If you're not sure whether or not this person is a frenemy, talk over your concerns with a friend you're absolutely sure about and don't feel unhappy around.

WikiHow

"We are very unhappy, and the Trump campaign is absolutely filing a grievance," DeWit said, but did not specify where they would submit such a complaint.

Los Angeles Times

"We have heard that some people in the Kremlin are unhappy with some of our investigations, and I'm absolutely certain that the Leningrad poll is just an excuse," he said.

The Guardian

The Dodgers, with absolutely no reason to extend the contract, declined, and Sheffield promptly warned them that they would have an unhappy player on their team.

The New York Times - Sports

"Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely, absolutely".

The New York Times

Unhappy women!

The New Yorker

(Unhappy goats).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context and choose stronger alternatives like "utterly miserable" or "completely dissatisfied" if the situation warrants a more emphatic expression of negative emotion.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "absolutely unhappy" may sound somewhat informal. In professional or academic writing, consider using more sophisticated alternatives such as "profoundly dissatisfied" or "deeply disappointed" to maintain a more formal tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "absolutely unhappy" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, where "absolutely" modifies and intensifies the adjective "unhappy". This construction emphasizes the strength or degree of unhappiness being expressed, as seen in Ludwig's example: "The American people are absolutely unhappy with what they've learned and more is forthcoming".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

17%

Science & Research

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "absolutely unhappy" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to convey a strong feeling of unhappiness or dissatisfaction. Ludwig identifies its function as an adverb-adjective combination that emphasizes the intensity of the emotion. While not extremely common, its usage appears in various contexts, including news and media, wiki and science, suggesting a generally neutral register. For more formal settings, stronger alternatives like "utterly miserable" or "completely dissatisfied" may be preferred.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utterly miserable

Replaces "unhappy" with "miserable" and "absolutely" with "utterly", emphasizing a stronger negative feeling.

completely dissatisfied

Shifts the focus to dissatisfaction rather than unhappiness, suggesting a lack of fulfillment or contentment.

totally displeased

Uses "displeased" to indicate a lack of satisfaction, with "totally" as the intensifier.

extremely frustrated

Highlights frustration as the primary emotion, suggesting a feeling of being blocked or hindered.

deeply saddened

Focuses on sadness as the core emotion, implying a sense of loss or disappointment.

bitterly disappointed

Emphasizes the intensity of disappointment, suggesting a strong feeling of letdown or disillusionment.

thoroughly dejected

Replaces "unhappy" with "dejected", conveying a sense of low spirits and discouragement.

intensely regretful

Shifts the focus to regret, suggesting a feeling of sorrow or remorse for something done or not done.

profoundly disheartened

Uses "disheartened" to indicate a loss of enthusiasm or hope, with "profoundly" as the intensifier.

seriously aggrieved

Indicates a feeling of being wronged or unjustly treated, suggesting a sense of resentment or indignation.

FAQs

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

You can use "absolutely unhappy" to express a strong feeling of dissatisfaction or unhappiness about something. For example, "The customer was "absolutely unhappy" with the service he received."

What are some alternatives to saying "absolutely unhappy"?

Alternatives to "absolutely unhappy" include "utterly miserable", "completely dissatisfied", or "deeply saddened", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "absolutely unhappy" the same as "very unhappy"?

While both express unhappiness, "absolutely unhappy" suggests a more intense degree of unhappiness than "very unhappy". It implies a complete lack of satisfaction or contentment.

When is it appropriate to use "absolutely unhappy" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "absolutely unhappy" when you want to emphasize the strength of your unhappiness, particularly in informal or conversational contexts. In more formal settings, consider alternatives like "profoundly disheartened" or "bitterly disappointed".