highly unfair

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "highly unfair" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the degree of unfairness in a situation or action. Example: "The decision to cut funding for the program was highly unfair to the students who rely on it for their education."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

"It's highly unfair and legally suspect".

The New York Times

He concluded that the peer-review system was highly unfair and discouraged innovation.

The New Yorker

"That's highly unfair because Noomi has captured this part and it should always be all her.

The Guardian - Film

This arouses furious opposition from landowners, in most countries a potent lobby, see it as highly unfair.

The Economist

What is upsetting is that there is no procedure for appealing against the making of a harassment warning and for many, this can feel highly unfair.

The Guardian - Opinion

She also seemed to praise the autocratic president of Belarus, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, in the run-up to that country's highly unfair elections.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

Tim Russert used his position as moderator to single out Clinton in a fashion that was inappropriate, highly targeted, unfair, especially when you consider the numbers of questions to Clinton and their negative tone, opposed to Obama's cutesy questions.

Huffington Post

While the progress made since 2000 has been significant, Lujan believes that tackling what still remains of the "highly discriminatory and unfair" tracking system, is the final hurdle.

The Guardian

"The promissory notes represent a highly onerous and unfair legacy of the banking crisis," Mr. Kenny told the Irish Parliament on Thursday.

The New York Times

The contemporary university is a highly unbalanced and unfair place, with casualised workers bearing the brunt of the labour but the least amount of pay or security.

The Guardian - Opinion

Combine that with their youth, the modeling they received from their own parents when they were young, and the growing dissatisfaction with a society that was highly sexist and unfair to women in so many ways, and you can see why many young mothers in the 1960s were increasingly unhappy even though they were supposedly living the American Dream.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "highly unfair" to express strong disapproval of a situation that deviates significantly from principles of justice or equity. It's suitable when you want to emphasize the magnitude of the unfairness.

Common error

Avoid using "highly unfair" in situations that are inherently subjective or matters of personal preference. Reserve it for scenarios where objective standards of fairness are demonstrably violated.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "highly unfair" primarily functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe something as extremely unjust or inequitable. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "highly unfair" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adjective phrase that amplifies the sense of injustice, per Ludwig AI. Predominantly found in News & Media and Science contexts, it serves to express strong disapproval of situations lacking equity. While versatile, it's best reserved for scenarios with objectively demonstrable unfairness. For conveying similar sentiments, consider alternatives like "grossly unjust" or "blatantly unjust". When aiming for impactful and precise language, "highly unfair" can be a powerful choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

grossly unjust

Emphasizes the extreme level of injustice.

extremely inequitable

Indicates a significant lack of fairness or equality.

manifestly unfair

Emphasizes that the unfairness is evident and undeniable.

patently inequitable

Highlights the obvious lack of equity.

blatantly unjust

Focuses on the obvious and intentional nature of the unfairness.

egregiously unjust

Points to an outrageously bad or obviously wrong situation.

remarkably unjust

Highlights the notable or striking degree of unfairness.

exceedingly biased

Points out the strong presence of prejudice.

thoroughly unbalanced

Suggests a deep-seated lack of equilibrium or fairness.

decidedly partial

Highlights a clear inclination towards one side or party.

FAQs

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

You can use "highly unfair" to describe situations that are markedly unjust or inequitable. For example, "The judge's decision was "highly unfair" to the defendant."

What are some alternatives to saying "highly unfair"?

Alternatives include "grossly unjust", "blatantly unjust", or "extremely inequitable", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "highly unfair" a formal or informal expression?

"Highly unfair" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it is most impactful when used in situations where a more neutral tone might downplay the severity of the injustice.

What distinguishes "highly unfair" from simply "unfair"?

The addition of "highly" intensifies the degree of unfairness. It suggests that the situation is not just unfair, but significantly and noticeably so.