grossly

USAGE SUMMARY

"grossly" is a word that is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an action or quality in a negative way, in the sense that it is done or happened to an extreme. For example: "The delay was grossly unfair to the people affected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is a crime under the Act to send "by means of a public electronic communications network" a message or other material that is "grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character".

The Guardian - Books

Joe Hockey says a political fundraising forum which asked members for $22,000 a year "to assist Joe Hockey" was "grossly misleading" because he had not accepted money from any organisation or individual.

The Guardian

They accuse the mainstream republicans of staging a grossly insensitive march which they say denigrates and insults the memories of those murdered in the conflict by the IRA.

The Guardian

The book recalls: "The government had been saved at the 59th minute of the 11th hour from a grossly embarrassing situation".

The Guardian

The report acknowledged that both programmes have benefited many young people in Uganda, especially those from poorer backgrounds, but added that "this achievement has been grossly watered down by the often inadequate, inefficient and ineffective response to inherent challenges".

The Guardian

UKIP: (p7): "It is grossly unfair that a few multinational corporations have been able to access all the benefits of our thriving British consumer market without making a proper contribution to the costs of British society.

The Guardian - Tech

The MP for Bromsgrove, who went to school with one of Sutcliffe's victims, called Mr Clarke's decision "grossly insensitive to the many families in West Yorkshire who are still grieving over the brutal deaths of their loved ones at the hands of this animal".

The Guardian

Presumably this could mean any one of the following: stealing her friend's husband because she wants him; being photographed by the paparazzi in a naked sex clinch; demolishing her colleagues with personal slights in the boardroom; and working out where to place genocide on her grossly wonky scale of human ruthlessness.

The Guardian

While standards of living are in general exceptionally high, Qatar is not yet paradise on earth: ask gays, who risk the death penalty, and foreign workers, who have been grossly abused.

The Guardian

A highly amusing though grossly overrated book – it is no wonder that it was voted the 20th century's best American novel, because Americans sincerely believe that they actually invented style: the best that money can buy.

The Guardian - Books

Labour Britain, which let in the Poles and co without restriction, grossly under-estimated the numbers who came and did not repeat the mistake this time.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Choose "grossly" when you want to convey a strong sense of disapproval or outrage. It is effective in pointing out significant flaws or misjudgments.

Common error

While "grossly" is generally acceptable, overuse in very formal or academic writing can sound overly emotional. Consider using more neutral alternatives like "significantly" or "substantially" for a more detached tone.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "grossly" primarily functions as an intensifier, modifying adjectives or adverbs to emphasize a significant degree, often in a negative or disapproving context. Ludwig's examples showcase its use to amplify terms like 'offensive,' 'misleading,' or 'unfair,' highlighting the extent of the described quality.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverb "grossly" serves as an intensifier, adding significant emphasis to negative qualities or actions. As confirmed by Ludwig, its grammatical status is correct, and it's commonly used across various contexts, especially in News & Media. While its register is generally neutral to formal, overuse in highly formal settings might sound overly emotional. When using "grossly", be mindful of the strong disapproval it conveys, and consider more neutral alternatives like "significantly" or "substantially" for a more detached tone. This guide offers practical tips and addresses common errors, ensuring you can confidently and effectively incorporate "grossly" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

egregiously

Replaces "grossly" with a term suggesting something outstandingly bad or shocking.

outrageously

Conveys a sense of being shocking or unacceptable, similar to "grossly".

blatantly

Replaces "grossly" with a word emphasizing obviousness and lack of subtlety.

flagrantly

Substitutes "grossly" with a term emphasizing a conspicuously or obviously offensive action or situation.

shockingly

Replaces "grossly" to emphasize the surprising and disturbing nature of something.

excessively

Uses a term that implies an amount or degree beyond what is necessary, normal, or desirable.

patently

Implies that something is undeniably and clearly apparent, like "grossly".

terribly

Replaces "grossly" to express that something is very bad or unpleasant.

obviously

Substitutes "grossly" to highlight the clear and easily perceived nature of something.

markedly

Uses a term that suggests something is noticeable or clearly evident, similar to "grossly".

FAQs

How can I use "grossly" in a sentence?

You can use "grossly" to emphasize the extent to which something is inaccurate, unfair, or inadequate. For example, "The report was "grossly inaccurate"" or "The trial was "grossly unfair"".

What can I say instead of "grossly"?

You can use alternatives like "blatantly", "obviously", or "egregiously" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "grossly negligent" or "highly negligent"?

"Grossly negligent" is often used in legal contexts to denote a severe degree of negligence. While "highly negligent" isn't incorrect, "grossly negligent" is more idiomatic in legal and formal settings.

What's the difference between "grossly" and "roughly"?

"Grossly" indicates a significant negative deviation or extreme degree, while "roughly" implies approximation or lack of precision without necessarily carrying a negative connotation.