grossly unreasonable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grossly unreasonable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is extremely or excessively unreasonable, often in a legal or formal context. Example: "The judge ruled that the defendant's actions were grossly unreasonable and warranted a severe penalty."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"People are making grossly unreasonable attacks on smokers," the physician said.

The New York Times

This seemed to Mendenhall so grossly unreasonable that she would sometimes lash out at the A.C.S. lawyers in the hallway afterward.

The New Yorker

The Patterson court acknowledged that in a proper case gross overpricing may be raised as an element of unconscionability, but it insisted that price (even grossly unreasonable) is only one of the elements of unconscionability.

SEP

"If you do something that is grossly unreasonable, but you're not aware of the risk you're taking, you're not being grossly criminally negligent, even though you're being negligent," he said.

Los Angeles Times

A growing chorus of groups has called for an end to the grossly unreasonable debt burden, including Jubilee 2000, a global movement of religious institutions, labour unions and humanitarian organisations which advocate an outright cancellation of the debt owed by many of the world's poorest countries by the year 2000.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The interim CEO of Reddit and her attorneys asked Judge Kahn to dismiss the fees KCPB sought because they were "grossly excessive and unreasonable".

TechCrunch

The Le Dain commission published its 1,148-page 1,148-pageich found the penalties attached to mareporta to be "grossly excessive" and "completely unreasonable".

Vice

HMRC ruled that Unite had been calculating its VAT in a "grossly unfair and unreasonable" way.

The Times

The 2012 report described poor staffing and accountability measures, "shockingly high rates" of violence, "grossly inadequate" suicide prevention measures, "unreasonable barriers" to medical care and little to no help for prisoners who did not speak English.

The New York Times

In short, Ms. Brown said, H.M.O.'s have received "an unreasonable amount" from Medicare because their administrative costs were grossly inflated, by a total of $3 billion to $4 billion in the three years of financial reports that she reviewed.

The New York Times

But the judges ruled that force was not necessarily unreasonable and unlawful "simply because it is disproportionate – unless it is grossly disproportionate".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "grossly unreasonable" to describe actions or decisions that deviate significantly from what is considered rational or fair, especially in legal or formal contexts. For instance, "The court found the company's pricing strategy to be grossly unreasonable."

Common error

Avoid using "grossly unreasonable" in casual conversation. It can sound overly formal or dramatic. Simpler phrases like "very unfair" or "completely illogical" are often more appropriate in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grossly unreasonable" functions primarily as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun, intensifies the degree of unreasonableness. As Ludwig AI highlights, this phrase is used to describe something that is extremely or excessively unreasonable. The examples provided by Ludwig show its use in legal and formal contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "grossly unreasonable" is a grammatically correct adjective phrase used to describe something that is extremely or excessively unreasonable. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English, especially in formal contexts. While not a very common phrase, it effectively conveys a strong sense of disapproval towards something that significantly deviates from what is considered rational or fair. Alternatives include "extremely unfair" or "highly irrational", depending on the specific nuance desired. When writing, it's best to reserve "grossly unreasonable" for formal settings and avoid overusing it in casual conversations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Grossly disproportionate

Similar to "grossly unreasonable", but specifically regarding proportions.

Flagrantly unreasonable

Stresses the shocking and obvious nature of the unreasonableness.

Highly irrational

Emphasizes the lack of logical thought or reason.

Manifestly illogical

Emphasizes the clear and obvious lack of logical consistency.

Extremely unfair

Focuses on the aspect of injustice rather than rationality.

Egregiously unfair

Emphasizes the exceptional level of injustice or inequity involved.

Blatantly unjust

Stresses the obvious and offensive nature of the injustice.

Unconscionably excessive

Highlights the extreme and morally reprehensible nature of something.

Patently absurd

Highlights the ridiculous and illogical nature of something.

Utterly preposterous

Highlights the complete lack of credibility or believability.

FAQs

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

You can use "grossly unreasonable" to describe something that significantly exceeds the bounds of what is considered reasonable or fair. For example, "The judge deemed the punishment "grossly unreasonable" given the minor nature of the offense."

What's a similar phrase to "grossly unreasonable"?

Similar phrases include "extremely unfair", "highly irrational", or "blatantly unjust". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "grossly unreasonable" in everyday conversation?

While grammatically correct, "grossly unreasonable" is more suited for formal contexts, such as legal documents or professional reports. In casual settings, simpler phrases like "very unfair" or "totally illogical" might be more appropriate.

What makes something "grossly unreasonable" as opposed to just "unreasonable"?

The addition of "grossly" intensifies the degree of unreasonableness. It suggests that the action or decision is not just slightly off, but significantly and obviously beyond the pale of what is acceptable or rational. The term implies a severe departure from accepted standards.