completely irrational

USAGE SUMMARY

"completely irrational" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that lacks reason or logic entirely. For example, "His decision to quit his job without a backup plan seemed completely irrational." Alternative expressions include "utterly unreasonable" and "totally illogical."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The other he compared to an Escher drawing, a "completely irrational narrative".

The New Yorker

She is completely irrational.

Stanford University

It's not completely irrational.

The New York Times

"It's completely irrational".

The Guardian - Tech

That's completely irrational,' " he said.

The Washington Post

"You are being completely irrational.

The New York Times

The fear was all completely irrational.

Independent

"It's not completely irrational!" he shouts.

The Guardian - Tech

Completely irrational belief, but a lovely man.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"It actually worked out as not being completely irrational".

The New York Times - Science

"How do I deal with someone who is completely irrational?

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair this phrase with concrete evidence of the 'irrationality' to make your writing more persuasive and less like a personal attack.

Common error

Do not use "completely irrational" when discussing mathematics (e.g. irrational numbers). In math, a number is either rational or irrational; adding the intensifier 'completely' is redundant and can appear unscientific.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "completely irrational" functions as an adjectival phrase where the adverb 'completely' serves as a degree modifier for the adjective 'irrational'. According to Ludwig, it is frequently used to emphasize the absolute nature of a lack of reason, effectively acting as an intensifier in evaluative statements.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

12%

Science

8%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "completely irrational" is a highly effective tool for emphasizing a total lack of logic or reason. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that it is Very common and widely used across prestigious sources, ranging from The New Yorker to scientific journals like Science Magazine. It is grammatically sound and serves a clear communicative purpose: to highlight extreme inconsistencies between behavior and objective reality. While it is versatile enough for both journalistic and academic registers, writers should ensure the context justifies such a strong intensifier to maintain credibility. Whether describing economic policies, human phobias or political decisions, "completely irrational" remains a standard English expression for characterizing deep-seated illogicality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utterly illogical

Emphasizes a violation of logical structure rather than just a lack of general reason.

totally unreasonable

Focuses more on the unfairness or excessive nature of a demand or expectation.

completely nonsensical

Implies that the subject is so devoid of logic that it makes no sense at all.

absolutely senseless

Suggests a total lack of purpose or meaning behind an action.

thoroughly unjustifiable

Focuses on the inability to defend an action or decision with logic.

entirely groundless

Suggests that an argument or fear has no basis in fact or evidence.

wholly baseless

Often used in legal or formal contexts to describe claims without a foundation.

perfectly absurd

Uses a slightly more literary tone to highlight the ridiculous nature of a situation.

purely emotive

Indicates that a decision is driven entirely by feelings rather than cold facts.

wholly subjective

Shifts the focus from a lack of logic to a reliance on personal feelings.

FAQs

How do I use "completely irrational" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe an action or feeling that lacks logic, such as: "Her fear of the harmless spider was "completely irrational" but very real to her".

What is a more formal synonym for "completely irrational"?

In formal or academic contexts, you might prefer "thoroughly unjustifiable" or "entirely groundless".

What can I say instead of "completely irrational" when describing feelings?

If you want to focus on the emotional aspect, you could say the reaction was "purely emotive" or "driven by instinct".

What is the difference between "completely irrational" and "totally illogical"?

While often interchangeable, "totally illogical" specifically refers to a failure in deductive reasoning, whereas "completely irrational" often describes human behavior or emotions that defy common sense.