completely lacking

USAGE SUMMARY

"completely lacking" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to describe something that is completely or totally absent or missing. Example: The report was completely lacking in specific details and failed to address important issues. In this sentence, "completely lacking" is used to express that the report was completely devoid of specific details and did not cover important matters. It conveys a strong sense of deficiency or inadequacy. Other ways to use "completely lacking" in a sentence could be: - His argument was completely lacking in evidence or logic. - The movie was completely lacking in originality, as it was a blatant copy of another film. - The team's performance was completely lacking, and they were easily defeated by their opponents. - The student's essay was completely lacking in structure and coherence, making it difficult to follow. - The garden was completely lacking in color, as all the flowers had wilted due to the lack of water.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The sense of urgency is completely lacking".

The Guardian - Business

And the suppoting infrastructure was almost completely lacking.

University of California, Berkeley

In general, information is poor or completely lacking.

Cornell University

Tolstoy: "Sincerity is completely lacking in all Shakespeare's works.

The Guardian

"He is completely lacking in leadership qualities," one told me.

The Guardian

Yet Cog was completely lacking in social skills.

The Guardian - Tech

"This is completely lacking on the other side".

The New Yorker

(It's completely lacking in dramatic credibility, by the way).

The New York Times

Surprisingly, accurate estimates of these basic measures are almost completely lacking, particularly in low-income settings.

Harvard University

Furthermore, these foods are completely lacking in many nutrients that are crucial to our health.

Harvard University

The provision is completely lacking in these or any other terms susceptible of objective measurement.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "completely lacking", ensure the context clearly defines what is missing and why its absence is significant. This strengthens the impact of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "completely lacking" in casual conversation or informal writing where simpler terms like "missing" or "without" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "completely lacking" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It emphasizes the total absence of a particular quality or attribute. This reinforces the deficiency, as shown in Ludwig’s examples, highlighting a stark absence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Academia

31%

Science

31%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "completely lacking" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that strongly emphasizes the total absence of something. Ludwig's analysis shows that it's most commonly found in news, academic, and scientific contexts, and it serves to convey a sense of deficiency or absence. While versatile, it is most appropriate for neutral to formal writing. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "wholly lacking" or "entirely lacking". According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is perfectly valid, adding to its reliability and broad usability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Wholly lacking

Emphasizes the entirety of the absence, synonymous with completely.

Entirely lacking

Highlights the completeness of the absence, similar to wholly.

Utterly lacking

Stresses the absoluteness of the absence.

Absolutely lacking

Focuses on the total and unconditional absence.

Totally devoid of

Uses "devoid" to express complete absence, adding a slightly more formal tone.

Completely devoid of

Uses "devoid" to express complete absence, adding a slightly more formal tone.

Altogether lacking

Similar to "completely", but can sometimes imply a sense of surprise.

Quite lacking

Indicates a significant absence, though potentially less emphatic than "completely".

Deficient in

Highlights a lack or shortage, often in a specific quality or aspect.

Missing entirely

Emphasizes the complete absence through the use of "missing".

FAQs

How can I use "completely lacking" in a sentence?

Use "completely lacking" to emphasize the total absence of something. For example, "The project was "completely lacking" in detailed planning."

What are some alternatives to "completely lacking"?

You can use alternatives like "wholly lacking", "entirely lacking", or "utterly lacking" depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "completely lacking" or "totally devoid of"?

"Totally devoid of" may sound slightly more formal, while "completely lacking" is versatile and appropriate in most formal and neutral contexts. They both emphasize a complete absence, but "devoid of" can sometimes carry a stronger emotional connotation.

What's the difference between "completely lacking" and "deficient in"?

"Completely lacking" indicates a total absence, while "deficient in" suggests a shortage or inadequacy. Something that is "completely lacking" is not present at all, whereas something "deficient in" is present but insufficient.