grossly bad

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grossly bad" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is extremely poor in quality or unacceptable. Example: "The service at the restaurant was grossly bad, leading to a disappointing dining experience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The judge, who described the allegations as "in grossly bad taste", is evidently no politician.

The Economist

Not only it is chutzpah, but it is in grossly bad taste.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In good times, that's grossly unfair and bad for the country.

The New York Times

The new investors grossly underestimated how bad the East Asian crisis really was.

Forbes

Not only is this grossly unfair, it encourages bad risk-taking, and sometimes fraud.

The New York Times

And is there a parallel corner of French bookshops given over to descriptions of WI meetings, grossly over-priced houses, bad food and rain-blighted summer fêtes.

The Guardian - Books

Also in 2007, the American Bar Association called for a nationwide moratorium on capital punishment based on its detailed study of state death penalty systems, which found racial disparities, convictions based on bad evidence, grossly inadequate indigent defense systems, and a host of other problems with the implementation of capital punishment in this country.

Huffington Post

A lot of the prejudices we have about a culture (good and bad) are grossly misplaced, and the only way to find out the truth about social practices is to experience them.

WikiHow

No one eats at their desk, because it's considered bad manners, and grossly unhygienic.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The implication of your article is that the bank grossly understated the number of bad debts in its balance sheet and that, if exposed, these debts would reveal the bank's true and parlous financial position.

The Economist

The club's director, Robbie Cowling, said claims of bad language were "grossly exaggerated".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "grossly bad", ensure the context clearly warrants a strong negative descriptor. Overuse can diminish its impact.

Common error

Avoid using "grossly bad" in casual conversation. It's a relatively formal phrase and may sound out of place in informal settings. Simpler terms like "really bad" or "awful" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grossly bad" functions as an intensifier ("grossly") modifying an adjective ("bad"). As Ludwig AI shows, it describes something of extremely poor quality or unacceptability. It adds emphasis to the negative attribute.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "grossly bad" is a grammatically correct but relatively rare expression used to describe something of extremely poor quality. According to Ludwig AI, it functions as an intensifier, emphasizing the negative attribute. Its primary use is to strongly criticize or evaluate something negatively. While typically found in neutral and formal contexts like news and media, overuse in informal settings may sound awkward. As there are other options like "extremely poor" or "terribly inadequate", consider your context carefully to decide whether "grossly bad" is the most appropriate choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely poor

Replaces "grossly" with a more common intensifier; maintains a general sense of poor quality.

terribly inadequate

Emphasizes the insufficiency rather than general badness; carries a slightly weaker negative connotation.

outrageously awful

Adds a sense of shock or indignation to the badness; more emotionally charged.

shockingly substandard

Highlights the unexpected and unacceptable nature of the poor quality.

appallingly deficient

Focuses on the severe lack of something, emphasizing inadequacy.

egregiously flawed

Highlights the presence of significant imperfections; more formal and technical.

remarkably inferior

Emphasizes the notable difference in quality compared to a standard.

patently unacceptable

Focuses on the obvious unsuitability or inadmissibility of something.

utterly deplorable

Indicates a strong sense of disapproval and moral objection.

thoroughly wretched

Implies a miserable and contemptible quality.

FAQs

What does "grossly bad" mean?

"Grossly bad" means extremely poor or unacceptable. It intensifies the adjective "bad", indicating something is significantly deficient or of very low quality.

How can I use "grossly bad" in a sentence?

You might say, "The management of the company was "grossly bad", leading to its financial downfall" or "The food was "grossly bad" so we left the restaurant early."

Are there synonyms for "grossly bad"?

Yes, alternatives include "extremely poor", "terribly inadequate", or "outrageously awful".

Is "grossly bad" a formal or informal expression?

"Grossly bad" is more formal than simply saying "really bad" or "awful". It is best suited for contexts where a more emphatic and precise descriptor is warranted.