grossly deficient

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grossly deficient" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is significantly lacking or inadequate in quality, quantity, or performance. Example: "The report was found to be grossly deficient in its analysis of the data, leading to misleading conclusions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

In countries where the diet, especially that of growing children, is grossly deficient in protein, severe malnutrition ranks as an important cause of immune deficiency.

Britannica

Despite repeated warnings from Washington of imminent terrorist attacks, security precautions at foreign compounds were grossly deficient.

The New York Times

After an investigation that the office called "flawed and grossly deficient," an investigator with the Department of Environmental Protection decided not to file charges.

The New York Times

The National Academy of Sciences, the nation's most prestigious scientific organization, has surveyed the field of forensic science and found it grossly deficient.

The New York Times

Government, law schools and the profession need to work together to redesign and fortify the grossly deficient legal services system.

The New York Times

Frontline staff were responsible for "inappropriate and unsafe care" and the response to potentially fatal incidents by the trust hierarchy was "grossly deficient, with repeated failure to investigate properly and learn lessons".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

But Judge Rakoff rejected the original plan, saying that Mr. Breeden found aspects of it "grossly excessive or otherwise deficient in both form and substance".

The New York Times

Surprisingly, although red blood cells appear grossly normal in SEC23B-deficient mice, these animals die at birth due to dramatic destruction of the pancreas (Tao et al., 2012).

eLife

Our results show that the formation of focal adhesions is not grossly affected in Ilk-deficient NCCs, as demonstrated by normal vinculin distribution (Fig. 6A, red).

DMM Disease Models and Mechanisms

Repair of chromosomal DNA DSBs also appeared grossly normal in SIRT6-deficient mouse cells; it is possible that the assays for DNA DSBs used in our new study (comet assays for DNA damage in single cells and site-specific DSB repair assays) provide better sensitivity than the previously used assay (pulsed field gel electrophoresis) [ 17].

Aging

Whereas HIPK1/2 double knockout mice die at embryonic day 12.5, either HIPK1 or HIPK2-deficient mice develop grossly normal but exhibit differences in apoptosis induction and eye development [ 17- 20].

Cell Communication and Signaling

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "grossly deficient", ensure that the context clearly indicates what the subject is deficient in. Specify the area or aspect in which the deficiency exists to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "grossly deficient" when a milder term like "somewhat inadequate" would be more accurate. "Grossly" implies a significant and obvious deficiency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grossly deficient" functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun, indicating a significant degree of inadequacy or lack. Ludwig examples show it describing processes, systems, and even physical structures as being severely lacking.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

32%

Academia

28%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "grossly deficient" is an adjective phrase used to describe something severely lacking or inadequate. As shown by Ludwig, it appears frequently in news, science, and academic contexts, indicating a broad range of applications where the severity of a deficiency needs to be emphasized. The Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English, serving to highlight a significant problem. Alternatives include phrases such as "severely inadequate" or "significantly lacking", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

severely inadequate

Emphasizes the insufficiency or inadequacy being at a severe level.

significantly lacking

Highlights the notable absence or shortage of something.

woefully insufficient

Conveys a sense of deep regret or disappointment about the inadequacy.

patently inadequate

Stresses that the inadequacy is obvious and easily recognized.

markedly deficient

Indicates a noticeable and distinct lack of something.

glaringly inadequate

Highlights how obvious and hard to ignore is the inadequacy.

terribly flawed

Focuses on the imperfections and defects that make something deficient.

extremely substandard

Emphasizes that the level or quality is far below what is expected or required.

badly wanting

Highlights the significant need of something to fulfill its purpose.

seriously impaired

Focuses on the reduced ability or effectiveness due to the deficiency.

FAQs

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

Use "grossly deficient" to describe something that is significantly lacking or inadequate. For example, "The investigation was "grossly deficient" in its methodology, leading to unreliable results."

What are some alternatives to "grossly deficient"?

You can use alternatives such as "severely inadequate", "significantly lacking", or "woefully insufficient" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "grossly deficient" instead of just "deficient"?

"Grossly deficient" is appropriate when the deficiency is substantial and obvious. It adds emphasis compared to simply saying something is "deficient".

Is "grossly deficient" a formal or informal expression?

"Grossly deficient" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is generally more common in formal writing and speech due to its precise and somewhat emphatic nature.