grossly ill

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grossly ill" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is very seriously or severely unwell. Example: "After the diagnosis, the doctor confirmed that she was grossly ill and required immediate treatment."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

All of which raises the question: If Puerto Ricans could vote, would they be so grossly ill served?

The New Yorker

My daughter and I were in New York seeing family when she fell grossly ill with a stomach virus.

Huffington Post

Within 3 h of injection, mice became grossly ill and were dead within 9 h.

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Clinical

The diffuse type is grossly ill defined and may have the appearance of a plaque or linitis plastica.

Cancer Imaging

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Even though speculative at this stage, academic proposals of this nature are regarded by most investors as grossly ill-conceived, and also possibly unwittingly detrimental to the goals of investor stewardship.

Harvard University

Recent reconstructions of the disaster have come to the painful conclusion that hapless German authorities – under orders to present as peaceful a Games as possible and show a "new face" of Germany – were grossly ill-equipped to deal with the situation and that much more could have been done to save the athletes' lives.

The Guardian - Sport

Grossly ill-informed.

Forbes

That the show pits one maligned demographic against another is both provocative and grossly ill-timed.

Vice

The fact that the show pits one maligned demographic against another is both provocative and grossly ill-timed.

Vice

The inverse problem of reconstructing the sub-resolution scatterer distribution that produces a speckle pattern is grossly ill-conditioned.

Biomedical Optics Express

His spokesman Paddy Harverson, who joined Clarence House after three years at Manchester United football club, said an article about the prince by Carol Sarler was "grossly inaccurate and ill-informed".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "grossly ill", ensure that the context clearly indicates the severity and seriousness of the illness. This phrase is most effective when emphasizing the critical nature of a health condition.

Common error

Avoid using "grossly ill" in casual conversations or informal writing where a simpler term like "very sick" or "unwell" would suffice. The phrase's intensity is best reserved for serious or clinical contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grossly ill" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a severe or extreme state of illness. As confirmed by Ludwig, it effectively conveys the intensity of the medical condition.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "grossly ill" is a grammatically correct adjective phrase used to describe a severe state of sickness. According to Ludwig, its usage is appropriate in formal, scientific, and medical contexts where the intensity of the illness needs to be emphasized. While authoritative sources like The New Yorker and The Guardian use it, the phrase remains relatively rare. Alternatives such as "severely unwell" or "critically sick" may be used to convey similar meanings with slightly different nuances. It's important to reserve the use of "grossly ill" for situations where the severity of the condition warrants such a strong expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

severely unwell

Focuses on the state of being unwell in a severe manner, similar to "grossly ill".

critically sick

Highlights the critical and potentially life-threatening nature of the illness.

extremely sick

Emphasizes the extreme degree of sickness, similar to "grossly ill".

gravely sick

Indicates a serious and worrying state of illness.

seriously ailing

Highlights the severe and prolonged nature of the illness.

dangerously sick

Focuses on the perilous state of health.

terribly sick

Emphasizes the intensity of the sickness.

acutely ill

Stresses the sudden and severe onset of the illness.

grievously ill

Uses a more formal tone to convey severe illness.

badly afflicted

Implies suffering and distress due to the illness.

FAQs

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

You can use "grossly ill" to describe a very serious state of sickness, such as, "After the diagnosis, the doctor confirmed that she was grossly ill and required immediate treatment."

What are some alternatives to saying "grossly ill"?

Alternatives include "severely unwell", "critically sick", or "gravely sick", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "grossly ill" the same as "seriously ill"?

While both describe a severe state of health, "grossly ill" implies a greater degree of severity and potential for immediate danger than "seriously ill".

In what contexts is it appropriate to use "grossly ill"?

"Grossly ill" is best used in medical, scientific, or formal contexts where the severity of the illness needs to be emphasized. It is less suitable for casual or informal settings.