extremely unreliable

USAGE SUMMARY

"extremely unreliable" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something or someone that cannot be depended upon at a high degree. For example, "The weather forecast proved to be extremely unreliable." Alternative expressions include "highly untrustworthy" and "very inconsistent."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

But perhaps more pertinently, he pointed out that altitude readings taken from radar recordings should be treated with extreme caution: "Particularly over oceanic areas, radar coverage is extremely unreliable and partial," he warned.

The Guardian

Though Blaise Pascal built a crude calculator in 1642, his was extremely unreliable.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Rainfall is extremely unreliable, however, and food scarcity is a perennial concern.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Hungary was an ally of Germany, but an extremely unreliable one.

The New York Times

It is true that this data would be very difficult to collect and is likely to be extremely unreliable.

The Guardian - Opinion

Even psychologists and psychiatrists, relying on their clinical judgment alone, are extremely unreliable in predicting violence, studies have shown.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

The first convergence criterion provides early termination for simulations that have an extremely low R after the first 10 samples (Generally, a highly unreliable system).

Journal of Cloud Computing

The candidate preferences that voters share with pollsters are extremely tenuous -- they will typically grasp for familiar names -- and can be highly unreliable in predicting the nominee.

HuffPost

He is interrupted from time to time by a couple of technicians bearing an extremely disturbed and unreliable computer with which they propose to study his behavior patterns.

The New Yorker

This economic and subsistence activity is extremely sensitive to unreliable and variable rainfall patterns characterizing this region (Hansen et al. 2011).

International Journal of Disaster Risk Science

Meanwhile, we encounter a problem in plotting the same measurements from the TeraSort workload because the performance is extremely variable and unreliable due to an increasing number of task failures (from task response timeouts and intermittent node disconnections) and re-runs.

Journal of Cloud Computing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience when choosing this phrase; it's relatively formal and strong. Less formal alternatives might be appropriate for casual contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "extremely unreliable" as a hyperbolic statement without providing specific examples or evidence to support the claim. Ensure there's a factual basis for the assessment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "extremely unreliable" functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun to indicate a severe lack of dependability or trustworthiness. As Ludwig highlights, its usage is grammatically sound and contextually versatile.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "extremely unreliable" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adjective phrase to denote a significant lack of dependability. As Ludwig confirms, it is mostly found in News & Media, Science, and Academic sources. When using it, remember to provide context and avoid overstatement without evidence. Consider alternatives like "highly untrustworthy" or "utterly undependable" to refine your meaning. Ludwig's examples showcase the varied contexts where this phrase effectively communicates strong doubt or distrust.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

highly untrustworthy

This alternative uses a synonym to convey a similar lack of trustworthiness.

very inconsistent

This alternative emphasizes the lack of consistency as a facet of unreliability.

utterly undependable

This phrase stresses the complete lack of dependability.

completely fallible

This alternative focuses on the proneness to error as a sign of unreliability.

not at all trustworthy

This phrase directly negates the trustworthiness.

demonstrably flawed

Highlights the presence of readily apparent imperfections, leading to unreliability.

patently unsound

Emphasizes the obvious lack of soundness or validity.

decidedly precarious

Focuses on the instability and potential for failure.

unfit for purpose

Highlights the lack of suitability for a specific function or task.

unworthy of trust

This option shifts the focus to the lack of deserved trust.

FAQs

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

You can use "extremely unreliable" to describe something that cannot be depended on, such as "The weather forecast proved to be "extremely unreliable"" or "The witness's testimony was considered "extremely unreliable" by the jury".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "extremely unreliable"?

Alternatives include "highly untrustworthy", "very inconsistent", or "utterly undependable", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "extremely unreliable" in writing?

Use "extremely unreliable" when you want to strongly emphasize the lack of dependability or trustworthiness of something or someone. It's suitable for formal writing and situations where a clear and direct assessment is needed.

What's the difference between "unreliable" and "extremely unreliable"?

"Unreliable" simply means not dependable, while "extremely unreliable" intensifies this meaning, indicating a very high degree of undependability. The latter should be used when the level of unreliability is significantly high.