hardly reasonable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hardly reasonable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that something is not very reasonable or is difficult to justify. Example: "The proposal put forth by the committee is hardly reasonable given the current budget constraints."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"That would be very short-sighted and hardly reasonable.

The New York Times

It is hardly reasonable to expect societies that have been long suppressed by mass-murdering dictators to leap in one bound all the way directly to perfect liberal democracy.

The Economist

Centlivre, considerably annoyed at her critics, defended herself by asserting that it was hardly reasonable to expect a character busy plotting against her husband to express herself "in the words of a Psalm".

The New York Times

But it is hardly reasonable for the Chilean political class to expect citizens to be satisfied with being better off than their Argentine, Peruvian and Bolivian neighbors when the record commodity prices that have fueled the boom in Chile's exports make them dream of living like Singaporeans or South Koreans.

The New York Times - Magazine

Thus adding covariates was hardly reasonable.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Nevertheless, it is hardly reasonable to construe a reverse relation, i.e., the disease being the cause of obesity.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

But this is hardly a reasonable view.

The New York Times

It is hardly a reasonable request, but then, Aisling is on morphine.

The Guardian - Books

Clearly using trucks to move cars is hardly a reasonable proposition.

The Guardian

Under this line of interrogation, levels of fear fall by around half by more among the over-60s.Given the intangible and messy nature of crime fears, it hardly seems reasonable to expect the police to assuage them.

The Economist

Hardly a reasonable comparison.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hardly reasonable", consider the strength of your statement. It implies a notable lack of reason, so ensure it accurately reflects the situation you're describing. If the situation is only slightly unreasonable, a weaker phrase may be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "hardly reasonable" for minor inconveniences or slight deviations from expectations. This phrase carries a strong connotation of irrationality, so reserve it for situations where the lack of reason is genuinely significant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly reasonable" functions as an evaluative expression, qualifying a statement or action as lacking in reason or justification. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it's used to express disapproval or disagreement, suggesting something is difficult to accept or defend logically.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hardly reasonable" is a grammatically correct expression used to convey that something is not very logical or sensible. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability. While not extremely common, it appears in reputable sources like The New York Times and The Economist, often in news and media contexts. It's crucial to use this phrase judiciously, reserving it for situations where the lack of reason is truly significant. Related phrases, such as "scarcely justifiable" and "barely plausible", can offer nuanced alternatives depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hardly justifiable

Very close in meaning, focusing on the lack of justification.

scarcely justifiable

Emphasizes the difficulty in finding reasons to defend or excuse something; focuses on justification.

barely plausible

Highlights the lack of believability or likelihood, focusing on plausibility.

not very rational

Underscores the absence of sound reasoning or logical thinking, emphasizing rationality.

not particularly logical

Similar to "not very rational" but places more stress on the specific absence of logical coherence.

scarcely logical

Similar to "not particularly logical" but with a slightly stronger emphasis on the lack of logic.

remotely sensible

Highlights the lack of practical wisdom or good judgment, focusing on sensibility.

remotely rational

Highlights something being a distant possibility with being rational

barely sensible

Focuses on the lack of common sense or practical wisdom.

faintly reasonable

Suggests a minimal degree of reason, possibly bordering on unreasonable.

FAQs

How can I use "hardly reasonable" in a sentence?

Use "hardly reasonable" to express that something is not very logical or sensible. For instance, "It's hardly reasonable to expect everyone to agree with your opinion."

What's a good alternative to "hardly reasonable"?

Alternatives include "scarcely justifiable", "barely plausible", or "not very rational", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "not reasonable" instead of "hardly reasonable"?

Yes, "not reasonable" is a valid alternative, but "hardly reasonable" implies a stronger degree of unreasonableness. The choice depends on the intensity of the message you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "hardly reasonable" in formal writing?

"Hardly reasonable" is suitable for formal writing when you need to express a strong disagreement with a proposition or action, emphasizing its lack of logic or justification.