completely terrible

USAGE SUMMARY

"completely terrible" is an acceptable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to emphasize a negative outcome or experience. For example, you could say, "The train ride was completely terrible; the air conditioning was broken and the aisle was crammed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

In fact, they are completely terrible.

The New York Times - Magazine

That said, the film isn't completely terrible.

The Guardian - Film

"Ultimately, it wasn't completely terrible," she said.

The New York Times

They have both felt extremely let down – it's completely terrible".

The Guardian

The 76ers even struggled to do "being completely terrible" right.

The Guardian - Sport

It's not completely terrible; a little spark of something crackles between Duhamel and Heigl.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

Not all of them and not all of the time, but most jobs are inherently, and objectively, completely fucking terrible.

Vice

Cable said that introducing regional pay was "completely unacceptable" and "terrible economics".

The Guardian

"Doctor Who!" The rest of the time, "I just like reading and sitting there completely motionless with terrible thoughts dancing around my brain".

The Guardian - Books

"Our prime minister has gotten us into a terrible, completely wrong war," Vanessa Bellón, a 23-year-old preschool teacher with a piercing near her lower lip, said as she voted there for the United Left Party.

The New York Times

It's abusing children, it's abusing very young innocent women, it's using the temptations of celebrity … and all that, I completely understand that this is terrible, simply terrible.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "completely terrible" to strongly emphasize a negative quality or experience. Ensure the context justifies such strong language.

Common error

Avoid using "completely terrible" in formal or professional writing where a more nuanced or objective description would be more appropriate. Consider alternatives like "highly unsatisfactory" or "significantly below expectations".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "completely terrible" functions as an intensified adjective phrase, modifying a noun to express a strong negative assessment. Ludwig AI confirms that it is an acceptable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "completely terrible" is a common and emphatic way to express strong disapproval or dissatisfaction. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English, highlighting its function as an intensifier. While generally appropriate for neutral to informal contexts like news articles and blogs, it may be too informal for academic or professional writing. Alternatives like "absolutely awful" or "utterly dreadful" can offer similar levels of negativity with slightly different nuances. It's crucial to consider the context and audience when choosing such a strong expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

absolutely awful

This alternative conveys a strong sense of dislike or disapproval but with slightly different emphasis.

utterly dreadful

This phrase suggests a high degree of unpleasantness or incompetence.

thoroughly awful

Similar to "absolutely awful", but may imply a more complete or pervasive badness.

totally atrocious

Implies a shocking or outrageous level of badness.

absolutely horrible

Emphasizes the unpleasant or shocking nature of something.

completely unacceptable

Focuses on the idea that something cannot be tolerated or allowed.

perfectly dreadful

Highlights the extreme unpleasantness or inadequacy of something.

entirely unacceptable

Indicates that something is not at all allowable or satisfactory.

absolutely abysmal

Suggests that something is extremely bad, reaching the lowest possible level.

patently awful

Implies that the badness of something is obvious and undeniable.

FAQs

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

You can use "completely terrible" to express a strong negative opinion. For example, "The service at the restaurant was "completely terrible"." or "The movie was "completely terrible"; I wouldn't recommend it."

What are some alternatives to saying "completely terrible"?

Alternatives include "absolutely awful", "utterly dreadful", or "thoroughly awful", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "completely terrible" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "completely terrible" might be too informal for some formal contexts. Consider using more professional alternatives like "highly unsatisfactory" or "significantly below expectations".

What makes "completely terrible" different from "terrible"?

The word "completely" intensifies the adjective "terrible", making "completely terrible" a stronger and more emphatic expression of negativity than simply "terrible".