frighteningly good

USAGE SUMMARY

"frighteningly good" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You could use it to describe something that is so good it can be frightening, like a new business idea or a performance. For example, "My presentation was received with enthusiasm - it was frighteningly good!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

Frighteningly good.

The Guardian - Sport

Bare-bones and frighteningly good.

The New York Times

Blethyn is frighteningly good, the film is pretty tiresome.

The Guardian - Film

Her instincts have proved to be frighteningly good.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The burger with house kimchi mayo and chasyu pork, late-night bar menu, is frighteningly good.

The Guardian - Travel

This team are frighteningly good, playing with power and execution that is breathtaking.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

And they type frighteningly well.

The New Yorker

Frighteningly full of life.

Huffington Post

I know I sound frighteningly like Thora Hird, but Rich Teas are good only for dunking in one's hot beverage.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Within a year her classy, good-looking, frighteningly clever presence was wanted at literary left-wing parties, where, as her biographer Carol Brightman tells us, she was introduced to "progressive hosts and modernist hostesses" at whose functions voices rose "in lively controversy over the new play, the new strike, the new Moscow trials, the new abstract show at the Modern Museum".

The New Yorker

For instance, the Italian words for "researcher" and for a person who sells stolen goods are frighteningly similar.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "frighteningly good" to describe something that excels to an almost unsettling degree, creating a sense of awe or slight unease. It works best when the context already implies a sense of intensity or potential risk.

Common error

Avoid using "frighteningly good" to describe ordinary, everyday situations where the intensity feels out of place. Reserve it for situations where the excellence genuinely evokes a sense of surprise or slight apprehension.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "frighteningly good" primarily functions as an intensifier modifying the adjective "good". It emphasizes the high degree of quality, suggesting the subject is not merely good, but exceptionally so. As supported by Ludwig, this construction is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Wiki

5%

Huffington Post

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "frighteningly good" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to describe something that is exceptionally good, often to a surprising or almost unsettling degree. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. Analysis of its usage reveals that it’s most frequently found in News & Media contexts, with sources like The Guardian and The New York Times providing numerous examples. While suitable for neutral and even informal contexts, it should be used with caution in highly formal writing. Related phrases like "remarkably good" or "exceptionally good" offer alternatives depending on the desired nuance. When using the expression, it’s best to reserve it for situations where the excellence genuinely evokes a sense of awe or slight apprehension, avoiding overuse in mundane contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

terrifyingly good

Maintains the intensity by using "terrifyingly" instead of "frighteningly", emphasizing the overwhelming nature of the quality.

remarkably good

Replaces "frighteningly" with "remarkably", softening the intensity while maintaining the high quality.

exceptionally good

Substitutes "frighteningly" with "exceptionally", emphasizing the superior quality without the element of fear.

surprisingly good

Replaces "frighteningly" with "surprisingly", highlighting the unexpected nature of the high quality.

impressively good

Uses "impressively" instead of "frighteningly", focusing on the admirable quality.

amazingly good

Uses "amazingly" instead of "frighteningly", focusing on the surprising and wonderful nature of the quality.

incredibly good

Replaces "frighteningly" with "incredibly", emphasizing the high degree of goodness.

startlingly good

Substitutes "frighteningly" with "startlingly", highlighting the surprising or unexpected nature of the goodness.

unusually good

Replaces "frighteningly" with "unusually", indicating that the quality is beyond the norm.

eerily good

Replaces "frighteningly" with "eerily", implying a strange or unsettling perfection.

FAQs

How can I use "frighteningly good" in a sentence?

You can use "frighteningly good" to describe something that is surprisingly excellent or effective. For example, "Her instincts have proved to be frighteningly good" or "The burger with house kimchi mayo and chasyu pork, late-night bar menu, is frighteningly good".

What are some alternatives to "frighteningly good"?

Some alternatives to "frighteningly good" include "remarkably good", "exceptionally good", or "surprisingly good" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "frighteningly good" appropriate for formal writing?

While "frighteningly good" is generally acceptable, it's important to consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing. In some formal contexts, you might prefer a more straightforward adjective like "exceptionally" or "remarkably".

What does it mean when something is described as "frighteningly good"?

When something is described as "frighteningly good", it means that it's not just good, but exceptionally so, to the point where it inspires a sense of awe or even slight apprehension due to its unexpected excellence. It suggests a level of skill or quality that is almost unsettling in its perfection.