downright outrageous

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "downright outrageous" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express strong disapproval or shock regarding a situation or behavior that is considered extremely unreasonable or unacceptable. Example: "The price increase for basic necessities during a crisis is downright outrageous."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

It's downright outrageous.

The New York Times - Sports

AS THE famous, the glamorous and the downright outrageous take their seats on March 24th for Hollywood's annual orgy of self-congratulation, there will be less backslapping than usual.

The Economist

"A link is not necessarily an endorsement, but a way to say 'you go judge for yourself.' " Let the blogger beware, though, of "link bait" — provocative or downright outrageous postings that some bloggers write merely to lure traffic.

The New York Times

Edgar Forbes, a media law consultant, said last week: "While much of the media coverage over the past 10 months has been as unhelpful as it has been inaccurate, some of it has been downright outrageous". Last week, the Express removed all references to the McCanns from its online archive.

The Guardian

There seems, in short, to be a quite stunning lack of understanding that a museum recreating and exploring the crimes of such a notorious killer of women, inviting visitors to pose with dummy corpses and have "fun" while imagining themselves in the shoes of terrified victims, might be offensive – or downright outrageous.

The Guardian - Opinion

Whether your ideas are extremely practical, or downright outrageous, plain simple or extremely complex: everyone is creative!

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

The idea of following a spiritual path in such a place seems outrageous and downright insane.

Huffington Post

It is outrageous — and downright dangerous — that the nation's press will not tell Americans the truth about the Obama administration's unethical and even criminal conduct.

Los Angeles Times

Outraged and Outrageous.

University of California, Berkeley

As the crazy protracted carnival of the presidential election rolls forward with ever more outrageous rhetoric, spin, downright lies, and "gotcha" moments, it bears remembering what's on television usually has little to do with reality.

Huffington Post

And I stand with Rep. Bachmann's former presidential campaign chief, Edward Rollins, who said in an editorial published by Fox News that what Rep. Bachmann has done is "outrageous," "false," "extreme," "unsubstantiated," "downright vicious and reaches the late Senator Joe McCarthy level".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "downright outrageous" to express strong disapproval or shock when something is not just bad, but shockingly unacceptable.

Common error

Avoid using "downright outrageous" in overly formal or academic contexts. While the phrase is correct, it can sometimes be perceived as too informal for scholarly writing. Consider using a more neutral alternative such as "completely unacceptable" in such situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "downright outrageous" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to express a strong negative judgment. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is usable in written English for expressing strong disapproval.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "downright outrageous" serves as an adjective phrase employed to convey intense disapproval or shock. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage for expressing strong disapproval or shock about something. Though not very common, it finds its primary use in News & Media and Academia. When aiming for a more formal tone or setting, consider employing alternatives such as "completely unacceptable" or "utterly appalling". This guidance ensures effective and contextually appropriate usage of the expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

beyond the pale

This alternative indicates that something is completely outside the bounds of acceptable behavior.

completely unacceptable

This alternative focuses on the lack of permissibility and the violation of standards.

utterly appalling

This alternative highlights the shocking and deeply unpleasant quality of something.

truly disgraceful

This alternative emphasizes the shameful and dishonorable nature of something.

absolutely scandalous

This alternative emphasizes the shocking and morally offensive nature of something.

plainly unacceptable

This alternative underlines the obviousness of the unacceptability

blatantly offensive

This alternative stresses the obvious and intentional nature of the offense.

simply intolerable

This alternative conveys that something is unbearable and cannot be endured.

indefensible

This alternative suggests that something cannot be justified or defended.

patently absurd

This alternative highlights the ridiculous and nonsensical quality of something.

FAQs

How can I use "downright outrageous" in a sentence?

You can use "downright outrageous" to describe something that is not just bad, but shockingly unacceptable. For example: "The price increase for basic necessities during a crisis is downright outrageous."

What can I say instead of "downright outrageous"?

You can use alternatives like "completely unacceptable", "absolutely scandalous", or "utterly appalling" depending on the context.

Is "downright outrageous" formal or informal?

"Downright outrageous" is generally considered to be more informal than formal. While appropriate for many contexts, it may not be suitable for highly formal or academic writing.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "downright outrageous"?

It's appropriate to use "downright outrageous" when you want to express strong disapproval or shock about something that you consider to be extremely unreasonable or unacceptable. Choose stronger, more precise phrasing for formal situations.