appallingly bad

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "appallingly bad" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is extremely poor in quality or performance. Example: "The movie received harsh criticism for its appallingly bad script and acting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

There is no point in being sentimental: they make appallingly bad, selfish, short-term choices.

The Guardian - Opinion

There are some appallingly bad books (as I discovered), but that's true of every single genre.

The Guardian - Books

It was either an act of incredible cynicism or appallingly bad judgment.

The New York Times

Brazilian taxes are relatively high, but its social services and infrastructure are appallingly bad.

The Guardian - Opinion

"The tools we had to charge terrorism were appallingly bad," said Andrew C. McCarthy, the lead prosecutor.

The New York Times

For example, many details of accepted theories of how DNA actually makes proteins are "appallingly bad," he said.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

America's appallingly defective sexual education is well documented.

Vice

The cartoon in this morning's Sport may be appallingly drawn (although not as bad as those British ones where the characters helpfully, and necessarily, have their names written in) but it has a point.

The Guardian - Sport

When he finally tells us why Laura left him (the reasons are offered as another witty list), the behavior he owns up to with a disarming casualness isn't simply bad; it's appallingly insensitive.

The New York Times

Continuing her downward spiral, there is only a handful of decent songs, an appallingly large number of outright bad songs, and a majority of mediocre ones on the 29 tracks of Revelling/Reckoning. DiFranco's new release is divided into two CDs, the first more upbeat one entitled Revelling and the second more sparse and generally slower one entitled, Reckoning.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Big parties tip appallingly (see above for general behaviour).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "appallingly bad", ensure that the context clearly supports such a strong negative assessment to maintain credibility and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "appallingly bad" in situations that require a more nuanced or less harsh evaluation. Overusing strong language can diminish its effect and make your writing seem hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "appallingly bad" functions as an intensifying adjective phrase. It modifies a noun by describing it as being of extremely poor quality. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is both correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Wiki

9%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

8%

Lifestyle

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "appallingly bad" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe something of extremely poor quality. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it serves as an intensifying adjective phrase carrying a strong negative connotation. While commonly found in neutral contexts like news and media, its forceful nature requires careful consideration in more formal writing. Alternatives such as "terribly awful" or "shockingly substandard" can offer similar meanings with varying degrees of intensity. Understanding the contexts and nuances of "appallingly bad" ensures its effective and appropriate usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

terribly awful

Replaces 'appallingly' with 'terribly' and 'bad' with 'awful' while retaining the strong negative connotation.

dreadfully poor

Uses 'dreadfully' instead of 'appallingly' and 'poor' instead of 'bad', indicating a severe lack of quality.

shockingly substandard

Replaces the original phrase with 'shockingly' to emphasize surprise and 'substandard' to highlight the lack of quality.

utterly dreadful

Employs 'utterly' for emphasis and 'dreadful' in place of 'bad', conveying a sense of complete failure.

exceptionally poor

Substitutes 'appallingly' with 'exceptionally' to amplify the negative quality of 'poor'.

atrociously deficient

Replaces the simpler terms with more formal and intense vocabulary like 'atrociously' and 'deficient'.

remarkably inferior

Uses 'remarkably' to highlight the extent of the inferiority, replacing 'bad' with 'inferior'.

woefully inadequate

Expresses a severe deficiency using 'woefully' and 'inadequate' instead of the original phrase.

abysmally low-quality

Replaces 'appallingly' with 'abysmally' and uses 'low-quality' to directly describe the poor standard.

thoroughly disappointing

Shifts the focus to the disappointment caused by the poor quality, rather than directly stating the quality itself.

FAQs

How can I use "appallingly bad" in a sentence?

You can use "appallingly bad" to describe something of extremely poor quality or performance. For example, "The service at the restaurant was "appallingly bad", and we waited an hour for our food."

What are some alternatives to "appallingly bad"?

Some alternatives include "terribly awful", "dreadfully poor", or "shockingly substandard". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "appallingly bad" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "appallingly bad" carries a strong negative connotation. In formal writing, consider alternatives like "exceptionally poor" or "remarkably inferior" to maintain a more professional tone.

What makes something "appallingly bad" as opposed to just bad?

The term "appallingly bad" suggests that something is not just poor, but shockingly or disturbingly so. The addition of "appallingly" emphasizes the extreme nature of the negativity.