cruelly lacking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cruelly lacking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is severely deficient or inadequate in a harsh or unkind manner. Example: "The report was cruelly lacking in detail, leaving the audience confused and unsatisfied."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Biblical commenters consider the other, good son whiny and priggish, cruelly lacking empathy for his brother.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Or because animals are the necessary protagonists of the fables, legends and myths our era so cruelly lacks?

The Guardian - Arts

As Morange notes, The roots of the crisis should be sought at the epistemological level: what molecular biologists cruelly lacked, what led them to a feeling of decadence, was the total absence of a definition of … what would be an explanation of development, [ … for this … ] required that another level of description of the biological facts not be discovered, but valorized.

BioSocieties

(Morange 1997, p. 390) The roots of the crisis should be sought at the epistemological level: what molecular biologists cruelly lacked, what led them to a feeling of decadence, was the total absence of a definition of … what would be an explanation of development, [ … for this … ] required that another level of description of the biological facts not be discovered, but valorized.

BioSocieties

Her failings have been tabulated by her critics, and are familiar even to fans of novels like "The Company She Keeps" (1942), "Groves of Academe" (1951), "The Group" (1963): her characters hew too closely and cruelly to their real-life models; they lack buoyancy.

The New York Times - Books

There is an acceptance by all parties that the squad with which Newcastle went into battle at the start of the last campaign was inadequate for purpose with the demands of the Europa League - something with which they will not have to contend this time around - and injuries cruelly exposing its lack of depth.

Independent

The Tri-Nations champions, though, were a class apart and cruelly exploited the lack of cohesion in the Baa-Baas ranks, with the impressive James O'Connor adding 20 points from the boot in his first game at fly-half.

BBC

She also conveys Tracy's pain at being cruelly told by her scapegrace father that what she lacks is "an understanding heart".

The Guardian

OSCAR IS BRAVE Senior year found him bloated, dyspeptic, and, most cruelly, alone in his lack of a girlfriend.

The New Yorker

During the recent leadership campaign, the MP was accused of cruelly highlighting Liz Kendall's lack of children by suggesting she was backing Yvette Cooper because she was a working mother.

Independent

The Royals did not have time to regroup before Swansea scored again, with left-back Ian Harte's lack of pace cruelly exposed in the build-up.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cruelly lacking", ensure that the context justifies the strong negative connotation. Reserve it for situations where the deficiency causes significant harm or injustice.

Common error

Avoid using "cruelly lacking" in contexts that don't warrant such strong language. Using it inappropriately can make your writing sound melodramatic or biased. Opt for alternatives like "seriously lacking" or "inadequate" when a neutral tone is more suitable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cruelly lacking" functions as an intensifier followed by an adjective describing a deficiency. It modifies a noun, emphasizing the severity and harshness of the lack. As Ludwig AI suggests, it indicates something is severely deficient.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cruelly lacking" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in English. Although its frequency is rare, it effectively conveys a strong sense of severe deficiency. The contexts in which it appears are diverse, ranging from news to science. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes something that is severely deficient or inadequate in a harsh or unkind manner. When using this phrase, ensure the context warrants the strong negative connotation and emotional weight it carries.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

severely deficient

Focuses on the extent of the deficiency, without necessarily implying malicious intent.

harshly inadequate

Emphasizes the insufficiency in a severe and unsparing way.

woefully inadequate

Highlights the inadequacy as being deeply regrettable or unfortunate.

painfully deficient

Stresses the unpleasant or distressing nature of the deficiency.

bitterly insufficient

Implies a strong sense of disappointment or resentment due to the insufficiency.

ruthlessly devoid

Highlights a lack of something in a merciless manner.

callously absent

Emphasizes the indifference or insensitivity surrounding the absence of something.

glaringly insufficient

Highlights the obviousness of the insufficiency.

brutally deficient

Emphasizes the harshness and directness of the deficiency.

despicably short

Stresses the reprehensible nature of the shortage or deficiency.

FAQs

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

Use "cruelly lacking" to describe a situation where something is severely deficient and causes significant distress or harm. For example, "The aid response was "cruelly lacking", leaving many victims without essential supplies".

What are some alternatives to "cruelly lacking"?

You can use alternatives like "severely deficient", "harshly inadequate", or "woefully inadequate", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "cruelly lacking" in formal writing?

While "cruelly lacking" is grammatically correct, its strong emotional tone might not always be suitable for formal writing. Consider the context and audience. Alternatives like "seriously deficient" might be more appropriate in certain formal situations.

What distinguishes "cruelly lacking" from other phrases expressing deficiency?

"Cruelly lacking" specifically emphasizes the severe and harsh nature of the deficiency, often implying that the lack causes significant suffering or injustice. Other phrases like "simply lacking" or "deficient" do not necessarily carry this strong negative connotation.