dead wrong

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dead wrong" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone is completely and unequivocally incorrect or mistaken about something. Example: "The politician's statement about the economy was dead wrong and caused a controversy among the public."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Dead wrong.

The New York Times

He was dead wrong.

The New York Times - Books

"Ackman is dead wrong".

The New York Times

He is dead wrong".

The New York Times

Otherwise he's dead wrong.

The New York Times

"I was dead wrong".

The New York Times

Summers was dead wrong.

The New York Times - Books

But that was dead wrong.

The New York Times

"We were dead wrong".

The New York Times

You'd be dead wrong.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

He's dead wrong, of course.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dead wrong" to express strong disagreement or to indicate that something is unequivocally incorrect. It's more emphatic than simply saying "wrong".

Common error

While "dead wrong" is acceptable in many situations, avoid it in highly formal or academic writing where a more neutral or precise term might be preferable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dead wrong" functions as an adjectival phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun, expressing a strong assertion of incorrectness. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms this usage across numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "dead wrong" is a common adjectival phrase used to express strong disagreement and emphasize that something is completely incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and primarily used in news and media contexts. While it's effective for conveying strong conviction, it may not be suitable for formal or academic writing, where more neutral terms like "incorrect" or "inaccurate" are preferred. Alternatives such as "completely mistaken" or "absolutely incorrect" can be used to achieve a similar meaning with a slightly more formal tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

absolutely incorrect

Highlights the definitive nature of the error.

entirely false

Focuses on the untruthfulness of a statement or idea.

completely mistaken

Emphasizes the total lack of correctness in someone's belief or understanding.

in complete error

Emphasizes the state of being entirely incorrect.

far from the truth

Highlights the distance between a statement and reality.

utterly wrong

Stresses the extent to which something is not right.

patently untrue

Suggests that the incorrectness is obvious and easily apparent.

seriously misguided

Indicates a fundamental flaw in someone's approach or understanding.

way off base

Implies a significant deviation from the correct information.

dead against

Highlights strong opposition rather than factual incorrectness, but maintains a similar intensity.

FAQs

How can I use "dead wrong" in a sentence?

You can use "dead wrong" to strongly disagree with a statement or correct a misconception. For example, "If you think that will work, you're "dead wrong"."

What does "dead wrong" mean?

"Dead wrong" means completely and unequivocally incorrect. It's a more emphatic way of saying something is wrong.

Are there more formal alternatives to "dead wrong"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "completely mistaken", "absolutely incorrect", or "entirely false" as more formal alternatives.

Is it okay to use "dead wrong" in professional communication?

It depends on the context. In informal professional settings, it might be acceptable, but in formal reports or presentations, it's better to use a more neutral term like "incorrect" or "inaccurate".