highly consequential

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "highly consequential" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has significant effects or outcomes, often in a serious context. Example: "The decision to implement the new policy was highly consequential, affecting thousands of employees across the organization."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

Meanwhile, McCain has been busily reversing his views in highly consequential ways.

The New Yorker

But beneath the jargon was an ideologically charged and highly consequential debate about the financing of legal services for the poor.

The New York Times

But some of the votes are highly consequential, and two of them have already delivered significant setbacks to the Republican Party leadership.

The New Yorker

What was striking about the decision in Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama v. Garrett, and highly consequential for the future, was how the court arrived at that result.

The New York Times

Underlying everything is, of course, a larger mistrust — the sense that in some hushed Washington conference room highly consequential arrangements are being made that will help a few privileged insiders and hurt ordinary Americans.

The New Yorker

The D.A.'s office was using an arcane tool of the law — a little-known but highly consequential instrument called a "material witness" statute — to jail Singleton until she testified in court about the cell-phone incident.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

The journalist Glenn Greenwald summed up the mood among many critics of the justice in a tweet: "Don't even try to enforce the inapplicable don't-speak-ill-of-the-dead 'rule' for the highly polarizing, deeply consequential Antonin Scalia".

The Guardian

The first image deals with the highly plausible and consequential development related to advances in neurological biological sciences to curb the harmful effects of drug use.

European Journal of Futures Research

According to (Brown and Kulik 1977)'s "flashbulb" memories theory, a highly surprising and consequential event, like the 2010 earthquake, raises memories that show little forgetting (Winograd and Neisser 2006).

IZA Journal of Development and Migration

But there is no evidence presented that such harm is highly prevalent or consequential.

AIDS and Behavior

The two nonfiction movies that have received the most attention this year so far — Mr. Ferguson's "Inside Job" and Davis Guggenheim's "Waiting for Superman" — address complex, highly politicized and enormously consequential issues in a way that combines explanation with advocacy.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "highly consequential" to emphasize the significant impact or far-reaching effects of a decision, event, or action. This phrase is especially effective when conveying the importance of considering potential outcomes.

Common error

While "highly consequential" is appropriate for formal or serious discussions, avoid using it in casual conversations or lighthearted contexts. Overusing such formal language can sound pretentious or out of place.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "highly consequential" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It emphasizes the significant impact or importance of the noun it describes. As Ludwig indicates, it denotes something with substantial effects.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "highly consequential" is a phrase used to describe something with significant and far-reaching effects. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically correct and suitable for formal contexts, commonly appearing in news, scientific, and formal business writing. While effective for emphasizing importance, it should be used judiciously to avoid sounding pretentious in casual settings. Alternatives include "very important" or "significant". The examples provided by Ludwig demonstrate its use across various domains, reinforcing its role in highlighting the gravity of decisions, events, or actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deeply significant

Emphasizes the profound importance or meaning of something.

majorly important

Highlights the substantial level of importance attributed to an event or decision.

critically relevant

Stresses the essential and pertinent nature of something to a particular context or situation.

extremely pivotal

Underscores the turning-point nature of an event or decision, indicating its central role.

profoundly influential

Highlights the lasting impact and effect that something has on people or events.

vitally crucial

Emphasizes the life-or-death level of importance, denoting absolute necessity.

notably impactful

Indicates that the impact is easily observed or recognized.

remarkably effective

Highlights the strong influence and capacity to produce a desired result.

exceptionally meaningful

Indicates a rare level of significance, full of purpose or value.

hugely momentous

Indicates that the event is of great importance, particularly in its historical implications.

FAQs

How can I use "highly consequential" in a sentence?

You can use "highly consequential" to describe decisions, events, or actions that have significant and far-reaching effects. For example, "The court's decision was "highly consequential", impacting future legal precedents."

What are some alternatives to "highly consequential"?

Alternatives to "highly consequential" include "very important", "critically important", "significant", or "far-reaching". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is "highly consequential" formal or informal?

"Highly consequential" is considered a formal phrase. It's more suitable for academic, professional, or journalistic contexts rather than casual conversations.

What makes something "highly consequential"?

Something is "highly consequential" when its outcomes or implications are significant, widespread, and often long-lasting. It implies that the subject has a major impact on subsequent events or conditions.