grossly insufficient

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grossly insufficient" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is significantly inadequate or lacking in quality or quantity. Example: "The funding provided for the project was grossly insufficient to meet the necessary requirements."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

Which was grossly insufficient.

The New Yorker

Yet knowledge and instrumentation had proved grossly insufficient.

The New Yorker

Merely investing in research and clean technologies, as Stephens supports, is grossly insufficient.

The Guardian

Banking union has been watered down to the point where it is grossly insufficient.

The New York Times

"We urge the governor and the Legislature to face up to the underlying problem with the M.T.A. plan, which is grossly insufficient funding," he said.

The New York Times

Zeroing in on killing the enemy, with grossly insufficient troops on the ground, had led directly to the overuse of air strikes and the killing of civilians.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

Management, he says, has responded by sending a maintenance worker to knock cockroaches off the hallway wall, vacuum them up and then wash the walls with soap and water, a treatment that Mr. Arkin calls "grossly and negligently" insufficient.

The New York Times

All of this is just something to think about for optimum clarity of a picture that already has as good a composition--including depth of field – as possible, and which will not be much more grossly marred by insufficient shutter speed causing camera-shake or subject blur or noise from excessive "sensitivity" (amplification).

WikiHow

The bureaucracy is grossly inefficient.

The Economist

Our results clearly show that Western Blot detection alone is insufficient to conclude on the absence of infectious prion, particularly when assessing a grossly heterogeneous sample such as MBM.

Plosone

Grossly unlikely.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "grossly insufficient", ensure the context clearly defines what is lacking and the expected level or amount. This helps emphasize the severity of the deficiency.

Common error

Avoid using "grossly insufficient" when a simpler term like "insufficient" would suffice. The "grossly" should be reserved for situations where the inadequacy is truly substantial and noteworthy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grossly insufficient" functions primarily as a modifier, specifically an adjective phrase. It modifies a noun, indicating that something is significantly inadequate. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression adheres to standard grammatical rules.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Academia

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "grossly insufficient" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe something significantly inadequate. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and our analysis reveals its prevalence in news, science, and formal business contexts. When using "grossly insufficient", remember to emphasize the substantial deficiency and use it when a stronger term than simply "insufficient" is warranted. Related phrases like "utterly inadequate" or "woefully inadequate" can provide similar meanings with slightly different nuances. The presence of "grossly insufficient" across various authoritative sources underscores its versatility and reliability as a descriptive term.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utterly inadequate

Replaces "insufficient" with "inadequate" and "grossly" with "utterly", emphasizing the complete lack of sufficiency.

severely deficient

Replaces "grossly" with "severely" to indicate a strong degree of insufficiency or lack.

patently deficient

Substitutes "grossly insufficient" with "patently deficient", indicating an obvious and significant lack.

manifestly inadequate

Similar to 'patently deficient', this highlights the obvious and undeniable inadequacy.

woefully inadequate

Uses "woefully" instead of "grossly" to highlight the inadequacy, suggesting a regrettable deficiency.

far from adequate

Highlights the distance from being adequate, implying a significant shortfall.

completely lacking

Replaces "grossly insufficient" with a straightforward statement of complete absence.

extremely limited

Focuses on the limitation, emphasizing that something is far below what is needed.

nowhere near enough

An idiomatic alternative stressing that the quantity is significantly less than required.

decidedly scarce

Emphasizes the scarcity of something, making it clear that it's far from sufficient.

FAQs

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

Use "grossly insufficient" to describe something that is significantly inadequate or lacking. For example: "The funding provided was "grossly insufficient" to cover the project costs".

What are some alternatives to "grossly insufficient"?

Alternatives include "utterly inadequate", "woefully inadequate", or "severely deficient". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is "grossly insufficient" a formal or informal expression?

"Grossly insufficient" leans towards the formal side, so it may be less suitable for casual conversations. In informal settings, simpler terms like "not enough" might be more appropriate.

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

"Insufficient" means not enough, while "grossly insufficient" implies a significant or extreme level of inadequacy. The addition of "grossly" emphasizes the severity of the deficiency.