barely interesting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely interesting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is only slightly engaging or captivating, often implying that it lacks depth or excitement. Example: "The lecture was barely interesting, and many students struggled to stay awake."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

When Bill Murray appeared on the première episode of "Late Night," in 1982, Letterman prefaced his first question by saying, "This may not be of interest to anybody, and it's barely interesting to me".

The New Yorker

It seems that, somewhere between October 2014 and now, Palmer-Edgecumbe realised that while women's history was old hat – barely interesting to women, let alone people – someone really ought to be educating the public about sadly neglected pseudo-historical criminal, Jack the Ripper.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

What was once strictly forbidden here is now barely even interesting to most Saudis, even in rural areas.

The Washington Post

Alastair Marriott's "Schrumpf," to music by Kurt Schwertsik, is at least original, but barely more interesting, as a woman (the accomplished Gina Scott) is lifted, carried, manipulated and rolled by three men.

The New York Times - Arts

One of the curious things about social networks is the way that some messages, pictures, or ideas can spread like wildfire while others that seem just as catchy or interesting barely register at all.

MIT Technology Review

Once attendees finally did embrace the "sex" part of the "sex party," the physicality barely felt as interesting or unique as the price tag and branding might suggest.

Vice

And when I assumed office as Suffolk county executive on Jan . 1 , 1992"interesting times" barely described our situation.

The New York Times

It's also interesting that she barely bothered with tailored jackets — that's also new.

The New York Times

(Reuters) It has been an interesting month for barely driven cars, with the latest example popping up in Ireland.

The New York Times

I also own a copy of Rudolf Kingslake's "A History of the Photographic Lens", which I only barely understand, but it is interesting stuff.

Stanford University

"At first I thought it would be very easy to arrange, then I thought it was impossible but now I think that it's barely possible, which makes it interesting," he said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "barely interesting" when you want to express a mild lack of enthusiasm or excitement about something. This phrase is suitable for situations where something is technically interesting, but not particularly engaging.

Common error

Avoid using "barely interesting" when you actually find something completely uninteresting or boring. This phrase implies a slight degree of interest, so use stronger language if appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely interesting" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a low level of interest or engagement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's usable to describe something that lacks depth or excitement. Ludwig examples show the expression in news contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "barely interesting" is a grammatically sound adjective phrase used to describe something that evokes minimal interest or excitement. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in English. It is most frequently encountered in news and media contexts, indicating a neutral to professional tone. When aiming to convey a similar sentiment, consider alternatives like "hardly captivating" or "scarcely engaging". Be mindful not to use this phrase when something is truly uninteresting; "barely interesting" implies a slight degree of intrigue that a completely dull subject lacks.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hardly captivating

Emphasizes the lack of ability to hold one's attention.

scarcely engaging

Highlights the minimal level of involvement or interest.

marginally intriguing

Suggests a slight sense of mystery or curiosity, but only to a small degree.

faintly appealing

Indicates a weak or subtle attractiveness.

mildly fascinating

Implies a gentle, understated level of interest.

remotely stimulating

Suggests a distant or unlikely chance of provoking interest.

vaguely amusing

Indicates a slight and indistinct sense of humor.

slightly absorbing

Implies a minimal capacity to capture one's attention.

tepidly attractive

Describes something that has a weak or lukewarm appeal.

lackluster

Highlights the absence of vibrancy or excitement.

FAQs

How can I use "barely interesting" in a sentence?

You can use "barely interesting" to describe something that is only slightly engaging. For example, "The lecture was "barely interesting", and many students struggled to stay awake."

What's a more formal alternative to "barely interesting"?

A more formal alternative could be "marginally intriguing" or "scarcely engaging", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "something is barely interesting to me"?

Yes, that is grammatically correct. It indicates that you find the subject only slightly interesting. The phrase ""barely interesting"" is perfectly usable in written English.

What's the difference between "barely interesting" and "not interesting at all"?

"Barely interesting" implies a minimal level of interest, whereas "not interesting at all" indicates a complete lack of interest. The former suggests something has a slight appeal, while the latter indicates no appeal whatsoever.