downright terrible

USAGE SUMMARY

'downright terrible' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is generally used to emphasize something bad, with the idea that it is even worse than expected. For example, "The movie was downright terrible—I didn't laugh once."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Passenger group Transport Focus says train performance "remains poor and in some cases downright terrible".

The Guardian - Money

But while the outlook is concerning for agricultural production and downright terrible for our natural habitat, there are a few glimmers of hope.

The Guardian - Opinion

It said in a message to police that a detonation had been planned but called off, because too many people were nearby.In this section Peter the downright Terrible Now for a queer question about gay culture The angel is in the detail Twists in the Miller's tale Striking a violent chord ReprintsThe original commission for "Peter" envisaged a statue a mere seven metres tall.

The Economist

Battery life on this phone is downright terrible.

TechCrunch

No flash is included and the CMOS sensor is downright terrible.

TechCrunch

The choices are downright terrible and range from Smash Mouth to Celine Dion.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

It was downright awful.

The New York Times

Two of the four games Sony sent were downright, jaw-droppingly terrible.

TechCrunch

A lot of stupid, terrible, downright infuriating things.

Vice

Arguably this makes them the perfect duo to review the most absurd, terrible, and downright close-your-eyes-and-pray-death-comes-swiftly moments of 2016, a year which saw deaths of some of our favourite artists, Brexit, and a xenophobic misogynist elected to the highest position in the free world.

Vice

Arguably this makes them the perfect duo to review the most absurd, terrible, and downright close-your-eyes-and-pray-death-comes-swiftly moments of 2016, a year which saw deaths of some of our favorite artists, Brexit, and a xenophobic misogynist elected to the highest position in the free world.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "downright terrible" to emphasize a negative quality that exceeds typical expectations. For instance, "The weather was bad, but the traffic was downright terrible."

Common error

While effective in general communication, "downright terrible" might be too informal for academic or high-level business writing. Opt for a more nuanced and professional term like "exceptionally poor" or "remarkably inadequate" in such situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "downright terrible" functions as an intensifying adjective phrase, modifying a noun to express a very strong negative assessment. As Ludwig AI confirms, it emphasizes that something is worse than expected. Examples from Ludwig show its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "downright terrible" is an adjective phrase used to emphasize the extreme negativity of something. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage in written English. While grammatically sound, it's best suited for neutral to slightly informal contexts. It's effective for expressing strong disapproval, as evidenced by its presence in news and media outlets, though more formal situations may call for alternatives such as "exceptionally poor". Keep in mind the context to ensure appropriateness!

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

thoroughly terrible

Emphasizes the complete or absolute nature of the terribleness.

absolutely awful

Emphasizes the extremely poor quality or unpleasantness of something.

unquestionably terrible

Conveys that there is no doubt about the badness.

utterly dreadful

Highlights the extreme unpleasantness or poor quality, suggesting a complete failure.

plain terrible

Simple and direct way of saying something is truly awful.

completely atrocious

Stresses the shockingly bad or appalling nature of something.

shockingly bad

Highlights the surprising or unexpected nature of the poor quality.

exceptionally bad

Focuses on the unusual degree of poor quality.

remarkably poor

Draws attention to the notably low standard or quality.

awful beyond words

Indicates that something is so bad it is difficult to articulate.

FAQs

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

Use "downright terrible" to emphasize the severity of something negative. For example, "The service at the restaurant was slow, and the food was "downright terrible"."

What can I say instead of "downright terrible"?

You can use alternatives like "absolutely awful", "utterly dreadful", or "completely atrocious" depending on the context.

Is "downright terrible" too informal for professional writing?

In some formal contexts, "downright terrible" may be perceived as too informal. Consider using a more professional alternative such as "exceptionally poor" or "remarkably inadequate".

When should I use "downright terrible"?

Use "downright terrible" when you want to strongly emphasize how bad something is, going beyond simply "bad" or "terrible". It's appropriate in everyday conversation and informal writing.