grossly untrue

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grossly untrue" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a statement or claim that is significantly false or misleading. Example: "The allegations made against the company were grossly untrue and lacked any factual basis."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

It's grossly untrue.

The Guardian

Was such a statement really as grossly untrue as it seemed?

The New Yorker

Brian Webber, a member of Pistorius's legal team, said: "It's grossly untrue.

The Guardian

But an official in the police Joint Task Force (JTF) in President Goodluck Jonathan's home state of Bayelsa says such accusations are "grossly untrue".

The Economist

"There are widely held views that, somehow, the lawyers in these cases made out like bandits at the expense of the Holocaust victims, which is grossly untrue," said E. Stuart Eizenstat, the American government's chief negotiator on the issue.

The New York Times

"For a certain group to wage a turf battle and say for financial reasons that they are the only ones who can safely perform cosmetic procedures is hypocritical and grossly untrue," said Dr. Angelo Cuzalina, the president of the rival American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, composed primarily of doctors who are not board-certified plastic surgeons.

The New York Times - Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Schillings said his blog also claims Lawson was "feigning distress" at the assault, something it added is "entirely untrue and grossly defamatory".

The Guardian

The myths were usually funny, often absurd, sometimes traceable to a grain of truth, nearly always grossly distorted, or totally untrue.

The Guardian - Opinion

But the suggestion that he had any sympathy for Hitler is grossly unfair and simply untrue.

Huffington Post

"Untrue, untrue," he mutters.

Independent

Patently untrue.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "grossly untrue" when you want to emphasize not just that something is false, but that it is dramatically or obviously so. It's stronger than simply saying something is "untrue".

Common error

While acceptable in news and media, avoid using "grossly untrue" in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more neutral alternatives like "inaccurate" or "false" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grossly untrue" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe something that is significantly false. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "grossly untrue" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to describe something that is significantly and obviously false. Ludwig AI indicates it's most commonly found in news and media contexts. While effective for emphasizing the magnitude of an untruth, be mindful of the context and consider more formal alternatives like "patently false" or "demonstrably untrue" in academic or professional settings. Its function is adjectival, serving to modify nouns and pronouns, with the aim of expressing strong disagreement or denial.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

patently false

Replaces "untrue" with "false" and "grossly" with "patently", indicating obviousness of the falsehood.

utterly false

Emphasizes the complete lack of truth, similar to "grossly untrue".

completely inaccurate

Shifts focus from truth to accuracy, suggesting a deviation from facts.

blatantly false

Highlights the obviousness and boldness of the untruth.

egregiously false

Suggests the untruth is remarkably bad or shocking.

demonstrably untrue

Focuses on the provable nature of the falsehood.

flagrantly untrue

Emphasizes the scandalous or outrageous nature of the falsehood.

absolutely incorrect

Uses "incorrect" instead of "untrue", conveying a sense of factual error.

wildly inaccurate

Highlights the large degree of inaccuracy.

palpably untrue

Indicates the falsehood is easily perceived or recognized.

FAQs

What does "grossly untrue" mean?

The phrase "grossly untrue" means that something is not just false, but significantly and obviously so. It implies a large deviation from the truth.

What are some synonyms for "grossly untrue"?

Alternatives to "grossly untrue" include "patently false", "utterly false", or "completely inaccurate" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

You might say, "The accusations made against him were "grossly untrue" and without any factual basis", emphasizing the significant lack of truth in the accusations.

Is "grossly untrue" formal or informal?

While not strictly informal, "grossly untrue" leans towards a neutral to slightly informal register. In very formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "demonstrably false" or "categorically incorrect".