extremely slow

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "extremely slow" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that takes a long time to happen or move. Example: "The internet connection was extremely slow, making it difficult to stream videos."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Almost as problematic is wMRP-MP, which can be extremely slow on some 1000 taxon datasets.

Algorithms for Molecular Biology

They were extremely slow.

The New York Times - Science

The pace was extremely slow.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Progress was costly and extremely slow.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Mair was an extremely slow burner.

The Guardian

I was an extremely slow eater.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Maybe it was just an extremely slow news day.

The Guardian - Opinion

Birds are just extremely messy and I'm extremely slow.

The New York Times

She discovered soon that the pace was extremely slow.

The New Yorker

LUPONE: The thought process is extremely slow for me.

The New York Times - Magazine

During sleep, the brain waves become extremely slow.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "extremely slow" when you want to emphasize the degree of slowness. It adds more impact than simply saying "slow".

Common error

While "extremely slow" is acceptable, avoid stacking multiple intensifiers (e.g., "very extremely slow"). Choose the most effective single intensifier or rephrase for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "extremely slow" primarily functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to describe its pace or speed. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable phrase in English. It serves to intensify the adjective "slow", emphasizing the lack of speed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "extremely slow" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adjective phrase to emphasize the intensity of slowness in various contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is deemed correct and usable in written English. It appears most commonly in News & Media and Scientific sources, indicating its versatility across different registers. While alternatives like "very sluggish" or "incredibly unhurried" can be used, "extremely slow" offers a direct and impactful way to convey a significant lack of speed. When using this phrase, it's important to avoid overuse of intensifiers and choose the most effective wording for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

very sluggish

Replaces "extremely" with "very" and "slow" with "sluggish", altering the specific descriptor while keeping the core meaning.

incredibly unhurried

Substitutes "extremely" with "incredibly" and replaces "slow" with "unhurried", changing the tone slightly.

remarkably gradual

Emphasizes the gradual nature of something, instead of the slow pace.

noticeably lethargic

Shifts the focus to the state of being lethargic, suggesting a lack of energy or enthusiasm alongside slowness.

prohibitively slow

Indicates that the slowness is so significant that it prevents something from being done or used effectively.

excruciatingly slow

Highlights the degree of slowness as being intensely painful or difficult to bear.

exceptionally unexpedited

Replaces the words with synonyms that retain similar meanings and impact.

terribly time-consuming

Focuses on the aspect of taking up a significant amount of time, rather than just being slow.

at a snail's pace

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey extreme slowness.

glacial

Metaphorically compares the pace to that of a glacier, highlighting extreme slowness and gradual progression.

FAQs

What does "extremely slow" mean?

The phrase "extremely slow" means something is happening or moving at a pace much slower than usual or expected. It emphasizes the intensity of the slowness.

What can I say instead of "extremely slow"?

You can use alternatives like "very sluggish", "incredibly unhurried", or "remarkably gradual" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "extremely slow"?

While "slow" already implies a lack of speed, "extremely slow" emphasizes the degree of slowness. It is not necessarily redundant if you want to highlight just how slow something is.

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

You can use "extremely slow" to describe various processes, movements, or progress. For example, "The internet connection was "extremely slow" this morning" or "Progress on the project has been "extremely slow" lately".