extremely ill

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "extremely ill" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who is suffering from a serious illness or health condition. Example: "After the diagnosis, she felt extremely ill and had to take a leave of absence from work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

"Ebola is not an airborne illness, it is contracted when a person is extremely ill and symptomatic".

The Guardian

‡Range of possible severity of illness scores: 1 (not mentally ill) to 7 (extremely ill).

British Medical Journal

Most (84.4%) had minor-moderate illness severity, 12.2% major severity, and 3.4% were extremely ill.

BMC Pediatrics

He was extremely ill.

The New York Times

"I've been extremely ill since.

The Guardian

At the time, Harold was extremely ill.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

Her presence and comments at this event were extremely ill-advised and ill-judged.

The Guardian

"I think it was extremely ill-judged of him to describe himself as a victim today.

The Guardian

It made me very depressed and extremely ill-tempered to be around.

Independent

I do think that it was something that was extremely ill-advised to say.

Independent

The regional design principles highlight the extremely ill-defined, unstructured and volatile design situations that regional designing engages with.

Design Studies

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone as "extremely ill", consider the specific context. If the situation warrants it, providing details about their symptoms or condition can add clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on "extremely" to convey severity. Vary your language with stronger adjectives or descriptive phrases such as "gravely sick" or "critically ill" to create more vivid and nuanced descriptions of illness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "extremely ill" functions primarily as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun (usually a person or animal) to describe their state of health. As shown by Ludwig, this phrase is used to indicate a severe degree of sickness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

22%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "extremely ill" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a severe state of sickness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's frequently used in news, scientific articles, and general contexts to convey the seriousness of a person's condition. While it is versatile, writers should avoid overuse and consider stronger or more descriptive alternatives like "critically ill" or "gravely sick" to provide more nuanced descriptions. The phrase appears most often in news and media sources, reflecting its role in conveying important health information to a broad audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

severely unwell

Emphasizes the gravity of the illness using different wording.

gravely sick

Highlights the seriousness of the illness and potential danger.

critically ill

Indicates a life-threatening condition requiring immediate medical attention.

seriously sick

Focuses on the significant impact of the illness on the person's health.

badly diseased

Highlights the presence of a severe disease affecting the individual.

terribly sick

Conveys the distressing nature of the illness.

acutely unwell

Implies a sudden and severe onset of illness.

dangerously ill

Stresses the potential for life-threatening complications.

mortally sick

Indicates a condition likely to result in death.

terminally ill

Describes an incurable condition leading to death.

FAQs

How can I use "extremely ill" in a sentence?

You can use "extremely ill" to describe someone suffering from a serious illness. For example, "The doctor reported that the patient was "extremely ill" and required immediate hospitalization."

What are some alternatives to saying "extremely ill"?

Alternatives include "severely unwell", "critically ill", or "gravely sick". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "extremely ill" in formal writing?

Yes, "extremely ill" is appropriate in formal writing. It's a clear and direct way to describe a severe medical condition. However, ensure that the tone remains respectful and sensitive to the subject matter.

What's the difference between "extremely ill" and "slightly ill"?

"Extremely ill" indicates a serious and potentially life-threatening condition, while "slightly ill" suggests a minor ailment that is not particularly concerning. It's important to choose the correct descriptor to accurately convey the severity of the illness.