completely mortifying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "completely mortifying" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or experience that is extremely embarrassing or shameful. Example: "When I tripped and fell in front of everyone at the party, it was completely mortifying."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

As though that threat wasn't mortifying enough for the biggest, most expensively assembled racing stable in the world, for a surprise visit to find a quarter of the horses tested were positive is completely mortifying.

BBC

They gush about the suits on blogs, as did Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer, a mother of two preschool children in Philadelphia, who wrote, "Land's End has actually turned the process of buying a bathing suit into something not completely mortifying".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"It was a computer malfunction," Paisner explained, "not a permanent problem, but it was during the completely sold-out first show and it was really mortifying to Glenn". But it's also true, as Paisner explained, that DVDs in theatres can crash and not play correctly and neither the visuals nor the audio are as clear.

The New Yorker

How mortifying.

Independent

The results were mortifying.

Independent

It was mortifying.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It's mortifying.

The New Yorker

The publicity was mortifying.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It's just mortifying".

The New York Times

"No, that would be mortifying.

The Guardian - Arts

"It's mortifying for her, it's mortifying for us, it's mortifying for everybody involved".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "completely mortifying" to describe situations that evoke a strong sense of shame and embarrassment. It's particularly effective when highlighting the unexpected or overwhelming nature of the feeling.

Common error

Avoid using "completely mortifying" for minor inconveniences. Reserve it for situations that genuinely cause significant embarrassment or shame to maintain its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "completely mortifying" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, where 'completely' intensifies the adjective 'mortifying'. According to Ludwig AI, it is a correct and usable phrase in English. This combination serves to strongly emphasize the feeling of extreme embarrassment or shame.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "completely mortifying" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe situations that evoke a strong sense of shame and embarrassment. According to Ludwig AI, the expression is correct and usable. While not overly common, it is frequently found in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, be mindful of the intensity it conveys and reserve it for situations that warrant a significant emotional response. Consider alternatives like "utterly humiliating" or "incredibly embarrassing" if a less intense expression is needed. Be cautious about overusing it in casual contexts to preserve its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

genuinely mortifying

Replaces "completely" with "genuinely" to strengthen the authenticity of feeling mortified.

utterly humiliating

Replaces "mortifying" with "humiliating" and "completely" with "utterly", emphasizing the feeling of being degraded.

deeply humiliating

Uses "deeply" instead of "completely" to intensify the feeling of humiliation.

incredibly embarrassing

Substitutes "mortifying" with "embarrassing" and "completely" with "incredibly", maintaining a focus on discomfort.

totally devastating

Shifts the focus to the emotional impact, suggesting the event caused significant distress.

remarkably shameful

Focuses on the shamefulness of the situation, highlighting feelings of dishonor.

absolutely crushing

Emphasizes the feeling of being overwhelmed and defeated by the experience.

thoroughly ashamed

Highlights the feeling of shame associated with the situation, rather than just embarrassment.

painfully awkward

Focuses on the social discomfort and unease caused by the situation.

unbearably cringeworthy

Emphasizes the feeling of vicarious embarrassment or secondhand shame.

FAQs

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

You can use "completely mortifying" to describe an experience or situation that causes intense embarrassment or shame. For example, "It was "completely mortifying" when I tripped on stage during the presentation."

What's the difference between "completely mortifying" and "slightly embarrassing"?

"Completely mortifying" describes a much stronger feeling of shame and humiliation than "slightly embarrassing". The first suggests a significant emotional impact, while the second implies a minor, easily forgotten incident.

What can I say instead of "completely mortifying"?

You can use alternatives like "utterly humiliating", "totally devastating", or "incredibly embarrassing" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "completely mortifying" an appropriate phrase for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "completely mortifying" might be too informal for some formal writing contexts. Consider using a more sophisticated or nuanced alternative like "deeply humiliating" or "profoundly embarrassing" for a more professional tone.