emphatically wrong

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "emphatically wrong" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to strongly assert that something is incorrect or misguided. Example: "The claim that the Earth is flat is emphatically wrong and has been debunked by centuries of scientific evidence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

"Last night we proved those critics are emphatically wrong".

Independent

Last night we proved those critics emphatically wrong".

The Guardian

And last night we proved those critics are emphatically wrong".

The Guardian

Diller touched him on the elbow and shook her head emphatically: wrong metaphor.

The New Yorker

But Green was emphatically wrong when he said the tragedy wasn't explainable.

The New York Times - Sports

Clearly, any suggestion that these closed hearings would make anything secret that is in the public domain now is emphatically wrong.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Mr. Nixon emphatically denies doing anything wrong, insisting that he carefully scrutinizes buyers to make sure they are licensed and reputable.

The New York Times

One older man said emphatically that she was wrong.

Huffington Post

Laura, who created a foundation to help counsel and advocate for other abused women, says emphatically, "They're absolutely wrong" and that she, too, was a victim of abuse.

Huffington Post

And the polls – although wrong in 2015 – emphatically back this up.

Independent

It is purely a guess, but if you were wrongly accused of cheating, you might want to let people know, loudly and emphatically, that you did nothing wrong.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "emphatically wrong" to express a strong, unwavering disagreement or refutation of an idea or statement. It's best used when you want to convey not just that something is incorrect, but that it is undeniably so.

Common error

Avoid using "emphatically wrong" too frequently, as it can make your writing sound overly aggressive or repetitive. Instead, vary your language with synonyms like "categorically incorrect" or "unequivocally false" to maintain a balanced and nuanced tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "emphatically wrong" functions as an adverbial modifier intensifying the adjective "wrong". It serves to strongly emphasize the incorrectness or falsehood of something. As Ludwig AI indicates, it effectively conveys a firm disagreement.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "emphatically wrong" is a phrase used to express strong disagreement or refutation. It is grammatically correct, functions as an adverbial modifier, and is most commonly found in news and media contexts. While effective for conveying a firm stance, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, it should be used judiciously to avoid sounding overly aggressive. Consider alternatives like "categorically incorrect" or "unequivocally false" for nuanced writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

categorically incorrect

Replaces "wrong" with "incorrect" and uses "categorically" for emphasis, indicating a firm and absolute denial of correctness.

unequivocally false

Substitutes "wrong" with "false" and "emphatically" with "unequivocally", conveying a clear and undeniable falsehood.

patently absurd

Replaces the entire phrase with a more direct expression of obvious foolishness or lack of merit.

absolutely mistaken

Uses "mistaken" instead of "wrong" and "absolutely" for emphasis, suggesting a complete misunderstanding or misjudgment.

clearly erroneous

Replaces "wrong" with "erroneous" and "emphatically" with "clearly", indicating an obvious mistake or inaccuracy.

decidedly untrue

Employs "untrue" in place of "wrong" and "decidedly" for emphasis, suggesting a firm and certain lack of truth.

completely unfounded

Shifts the focus to the lack of any basis or evidence for the claim, rather than directly calling it "wrong".

demonstrably false

Highlights that the incorrectness can be proven with evidence, emphasizing the verifiable nature of the falsehood.

flatly contradicted

Indicates a direct opposition to the claim, emphasizing that it has been directly refuted or proven false.

indisputably incorrect

Replaces "wrong" with "incorrect" and uses "indisputably" for emphasis, suggesting the claim is beyond any reasonable argument.

FAQs

What does "emphatically wrong" mean?

The phrase "emphatically wrong" means that something is not just incorrect, but decidedly and undeniably so. It expresses a strong disagreement with a statement or idea.

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

You can use "emphatically wrong" to strongly refute a claim. For example: "The suggestion that the Earth is flat is "emphatically wrong" and has been disproven many times."

What are some alternatives to saying "emphatically wrong"?

Alternatives include "categorically incorrect", "unequivocally false", or "patently absurd". These phrases offer similar levels of strong disagreement while providing variety in your language.

Is it appropriate to use "emphatically wrong" in formal writing?

While "emphatically wrong" is acceptable in formal writing, consider the tone and context. In some cases, a more neutral phrase like "clearly incorrect" or "demonstrably false" might be more suitable depending on the level of formality.