as imaginary as

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as imaginary as" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare something to an imaginary concept or idea, often to emphasize its lack of reality or existence. Example: "The idea of a flying elephant is as imaginary as a unicorn."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Such a thing was as imaginary as the retractable blade extending from his parents' station wagon.

The New Yorker

If there is no evidence that intrusive spying is necessary, than its constitutionality will be as imaginary as the examples used to justify it.

TechCrunch

Yet it would appear that no financial meltdown, no matter how great, can shake academia's manic and irrational pursuit of a creature as imaginary as a unicorn: an even remotely qualified faculty made up of proportional numbers of blacks, Hispanics and women.

Forbes

The fabled "missile gap" that John F. Kennedy ran on in 1960 was as imaginary as Saddam Hussein's WMD, but anyone who tried telling those truths was charged with a "failure of nerve" or worse by the blind war-mongers stampeding us toward self-destruction.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

But that guy is not as scary as Imaginary Barack.

The New York Times

This often results in a composite of many separate observations, as well as imaginary effects.

The New York Times

What makes the Backyardigans' travels especially appealing is that they are musical adventures as well as imaginary geographical ones.

The New York Times

Gautier's poem is one of several medieval "encyclopaedic" works that describes creation, geography, and astronomy with factual as well as imaginary passages.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Gonzalez-Foerster's R.W.F is an imaginary as well as a real space, a transposition of somewhere she has never seen.

The Guardian - Arts

For a month, the channel would keep replaying this conversation with him, in an endless loop, until he himself had become just as imaginary a figure as Lara or Simon.

The New Yorker

It is his own version of one of those medieval compilations of beasts, imaginary as well as real, which readers in the Middle Ages brooded on for their religious and symbolic significance.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as imaginary as" to emphasize the complete lack of reality or factual basis of something you are comparing it to. This can add rhetorical flair to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "as imaginary as" when you simply mean something is unlikely or improbable. "Imaginary" implies non-existence, not just low probability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as imaginary as" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It is used to emphasize the lack of reality or the purely fictional nature of something by comparing it to something else known to be imaginary. As seen in Ludwig, it highlights the unreality of an idea or concept.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as imaginary as" is a grammatically sound comparative phrase used to emphasize the lack of reality of something by comparing it to a known fictional concept. As Ludwig AI points out, it's important to use it correctly, ensuring that the context truly implies non-existence rather than mere improbability. While not overly common, the phrase appears in various contexts, including news, media, and scientific discussions, making it versatile for general communication. Alternatives like "as fictitious as" or "as unreal as" can be used for similar effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as fictitious as

Replaces "imaginary" with "fictitious", emphasizing the invented or unreal nature.

as unreal as

Substitutes "imaginary" with "unreal", highlighting the lack of existence in reality.

as illusory as

Replaces "imaginary" with "illusory", suggesting a deceptive or misleading appearance.

as chimerical as

Uses "chimerical" instead of "imaginary", implying wild or fanciful imagination.

as fantastical as

Replaces "imaginary" with "fantastical", emphasizing the fantastic or whimsical nature.

as make-believe as

Replaces "imaginary" with "make-believe", emphasizing the contrived or invented aspect.

as nonexistent as

Substitutes "imaginary" with "nonexistent", stressing the complete lack of existence.

as hypothetical as

Replaces "imaginary" with "hypothetical", focusing on the theoretical or speculative nature.

as fanciful as

Uses "fanciful" instead of "imaginary", indicating a whimsical or imaginative quality.

purely theoretical like

Expresses the concept of something being imaginary by framing it as purely theoretical.

FAQs

How can I use "as imaginary as" in a sentence?

You can use "as imaginary as" to compare something to a fictional or unreal concept, such as, "The idea that money grows on trees is "as imaginary as" a unicorn."

What are some alternatives to "as imaginary as"?

Alternatives include "as fictitious as", "as unreal as", or "as illusory as", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "as imaginary than" instead of "as imaginary as"?

No, the correct phrase is "as imaginary as". The "as...as" construction is used for comparisons, while "than" is used for inequalities.

What's the difference between something being 'imaginary' and being 'unlikely'?

Something "imaginary" does not exist in reality; it is a product of the imagination. Something "unlikely" exists but has a low probability of happening. The phrase "as imaginary as" should not be used to describe something that is only unlikely.