highly disapproving of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "highly disapproving of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a strong negative opinion or judgment about something or someone. Example: "The committee was highly disapproving of the proposed changes to the policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Investors seemed highly disapproving of any union with Campbell, and drove down Bestfood's share price yesterday in response to reports that the company was considering such a move.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Our air and waters are among the cleanest on the global level and people highly disapprove of littering, but we are terribly blind to some of our unsustainable and wasteful habits.

The Guardian

Mill's father highly disapproved of the connection.

SEP

Oh yeah, by the way, doctors highly disapprove of this practice.

Vice

Aue's mother remarried a Frenchman, Aristide Moreau, which Maximilien highly disapproved of.

Wikipedia

People high in perfectionistic concerns perceive others as dissatisfied with them and as disapproving of them.

Personality and Individual Differences

"Magic happens by accident - it's never anything you can bottle". The connections continue with the casting of Dame Diana Rigg as the Duchess of Buccleuch, a disapproving matriarch highly reminiscent of the one Dame Maggie Smith played throughout Downton's six series.

BBC

My family was horrified, which I thought was rather funny — that a not highly distinguished New York couple should disapprove of titled members of the French aristocracy".

The New Yorker

He is the type of man self-respecting women tend to disapprove of, while being highly attracted to.

The Guardian

So at the time of the 7/7 bombings the impression was he disapproved, and was highly critical of her husband's actions.

The Guardian

"At the time of the 7/7 bombings, the impression was that she disapproved and was highly critical of her husband's action," he added.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and context. While grammatically correct, "highly disapproving of" may sound formal. Opt for a more casual phrase if the context calls for it.

Common error

While "highly disapproving of" is valid, overuse of intensifiers like "highly" can weaken your writing. Ensure the intensity is warranted and consider alternative expressions for variety.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "highly disapproving of" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, describing a subject's strong negative sentiment or judgment. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is usable in written English to express a strong negative opinion. It describes an attitude or feeling.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "highly disapproving of" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to convey a strong negative sentiment or judgment. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While relatively rare in occurrence, it appears most frequently in news and media contexts. For alternative expressions, one might consider "strongly condemn" or "utterly reject", depending on the intended nuance. When using the phrase, be mindful of the intensity it conveys and whether it aligns with the context of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

strongly condemn

Replaces the adjective "disapproving" with the verb "condemn", indicating a more forceful rejection.

roundly denounce

Uses "denounce" to convey strong disapproval, adding the adverb "roundly" for emphasis.

utterly reject

Emphasizes the act of rejecting something completely, highlighting the lack of acceptance.

vehemently oppose

Indicates a strong and passionate opposition, focusing on the resistance to something.

take a dim view of

An idiomatic expression signifying disapproval, but potentially less intense than the original phrase.

look upon with disfavor

A more formal way of expressing disapproval, emphasizing the lack of positive regard.

express strong objection to

Focuses on the act of voicing disapproval, highlighting the communication of negative feelings.

find unacceptable

Emphasizes the lack of acceptance, suggesting that something does not meet required standards.

have a strong aversion to

Indicates a deep-seated dislike or repugnance, focusing on the emotional response.

be strongly against

A simpler and more direct way of expressing opposition, suitable for informal contexts.

FAQs

How can I use "highly disapproving of" in a sentence?

You can use "highly disapproving of" to describe someone's strong negative opinion towards something. For example, "The critics were "highly disapproving of" the new policy".

What are some alternatives to "highly disapproving of"?

Alternatives include "strongly opposed to", "deeply critical of", or "vehemently oppose", depending on the context and the intensity you wish to convey.

Is it always necessary to use "highly" before "disapproving of"?

No, the necessity of using "highly" depends on the level of intensity you want to express. "Disapproving of" already conveys a negative sentiment, but "highly disapproving of" emphasizes the strength of that feeling. Omit "highly" if the context doesn't require such emphasis.

What's the difference between "disapproving of" and "highly disapproving of"?

"Disapproving of" indicates a negative opinion or judgment, while ""highly disapproving of"" intensifies that sentiment, suggesting a much stronger and more pronounced disapproval.