declined badly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "declined badly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something has decreased or worsened significantly, often in terms of performance, quality, or value. Example: "The company's profits declined badly after the market crash, leading to significant layoffs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Germany was struggling to regain its footing after unification, and its soccer fortunes declined badly.

The New York Times

Still Mr. Perskie looks at it this way: "It took Atlantic City 30 years to decline, and it declined badly.

The New York Times

But the trends, which are based on one price level and constant exchange rates, emerge clearly.As regards percentage of world trade Britain has likewise declined badly in relation to France and Germany.What the apologists will sayI am aware of the efforts made to contest the relevance of these statistics.

The Economist

In 1991, the philanthropist and art collector Ronald S. Lauder, of the cosmetics family, asked Mr. Lang to combine business and sentiment by rescuing Gundel, the once-grand Budapest restaurant that had declined badly, both in physical condition and food quality, under the Communist regime.

The New York Times

They have declined badly since their one season in the top flight, when they were much admired for their attacking football under Ian Holloway.

BBC

The building Donnell purchased in 1979 had declined badly.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

D3 BUSINESS DAY C1-20 Fed Stings Hedge Funds The Federal Reserve's surprise rate cut and the rally in stocks was welcome news for many investors, but hedge fund managers who were betting on continued market declines badly trailed the broader market.

The New York Times

This strategy has the highest chance of preventing seabird populations, which are the most vulnerable type of predators, from declining badly enough to put them at risk of extinction.

Science Magazine

Back in the 1990s the quality of New York water — once rated as some of the best of any city — had declined so badly that the Environmental Protection Agency was about to require the city to build an $8 billion water treatment plant.

The New York Times

Many assisted living places are mostly (maybe two-thirds or more) inhabited by people with dementia, especially so if the place is for profit... Sooner or later, most every friend declined so badly that they had to be put in nursing homes.

The New York Times

Bilingualism is declining: few mother-tongue Slovaks learn Hungarian; Hungarian-language schools teach Slovak remarkably badly.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "declined badly", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is declining and the severity of the decline. This provides a clear and impactful message to the reader.

Common error

While "declined badly" is grammatically correct, it can sound less formal than alternatives like "deteriorated significantly" or "decreased substantially", especially in business or academic writing. Choose alternatives to match your intended tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "declined badly" functions as a verb phrase where "declined" is the main verb indicating a decrease or deterioration, and "badly" is an adverb modifying the verb, emphasizing the severity of the decline. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

17%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "declined badly" is a grammatically sound way to express a significant decrease or deterioration. Ludwig AI identifies it as correct and usable in English. While the phrase is valid, you may prefer more formal alternatives, such as "deteriorated significantly" or "decreased substantially", depending on the context. The phrase appears in a variety of reputable sources, including news media and encyclopedias. Although not the most frequent expression, "declined badly" effectively communicates a notable decline in various situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deteriorated significantly

Replaces "declined" with "deteriorated", emphasizing a worsening condition. "Significantly" reinforces the extent of the decline.

worsened considerably

Uses "worsened" instead of "declined", focusing on a negative change. "Considerably" highlights the substantial nature of the decline.

fell sharply

Replaces "declined badly" with "fell sharply", indicating a sudden and steep decrease.

decreased substantially

Employs "decreased" to highlight the reduction, with "substantially" emphasizing the magnitude of the decline.

dropped dramatically

Substitutes "declined badly" with "dropped dramatically", conveying a sudden and considerable decrease.

slipped severely

Uses "slipped" to suggest a gradual decline, while "severely" underscores the seriousness of the decline.

plummeted rapidly

Replaces "declined" with "plummeted", suggesting a very fast and steep drop. "Rapidly" reinforces this speed.

suffered a major setback

Replaces "declined badly" with a more general description of a significant negative event or reversal of progress.

regressed substantially

Employs "regressed" to indicate a return to a previous, less developed state, with "substantially" emphasizing the extent of the regression.

diminished significantly

Uses "diminished" to highlight a reduction in size, extent, or importance. "Significantly" underscores the considerable nature of the reduction.

FAQs

What does "declined badly" mean?

The phrase "declined badly" means that something has decreased or deteriorated to a significant extent. It suggests a notable drop in quality, performance, or value.

How can I use "declined badly" in a sentence?

You can use "declined badly" to describe various situations, such as "The company's profits "declined badly" after the market crash" or "The quality of the restaurant's food "declined badly" over the past year".

What are some alternatives to "declined badly"?

Alternatives to "declined badly" include "deteriorated significantly", "worsened considerably", or "fell sharply". The best alternative depends on the specific context.

Is "declined badly" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "declined badly" can be less formal than alternatives like "decreased substantially" or "regressed substantially". Consider your audience and the desired tone when choosing your words.