horrendously big

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "horrendously big" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is extremely large or oversized, often with a negative connotation. Example: "The new building is horrendously big, dwarfing all the other structures in the area."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Underneath the 19in lightweight alloy wheels (or optional forged alloy 20s) sit horrendously big carbon ceramic brake discs (420mm up front. 420mm!) that are "fade-resistant" and display "higher thermal stability".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"It is getting horrendously bad".

The New York Times

They were horrendously bad at Celtic.

The Guardian - Sport

"Many municipal schools are horrendously bad," Vlachos said.

The Guardian

But insurers, he said, "have done a horrendously bad job at risk".

The New York Times

Awfully, horrendously bad.

Huffington Post

Bishop also criticised the lyrics in most songs, stating that "Walking Stick" contained "some horrendously bad lyrics".

Wikipedia

And one consequence is horrendously bad: It makes us afraid of our own minds.

Huffington Post

Even though the National Enquirer got the facts right when it dug up the dirt on the horrendously hypocritical, adulterous presidential candidate Edwards and gave him the biggest black eye of the year, it would have given serious journalism a black eye if the Enquirer had won a Pulitzer Prize.

Huffington Post

Of course, on a bad night he can be horrendously disappointing.

The Guardian - Music

I moved horrendously and my first step on this stuff was just really bad".

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "horrendously big" to emphasize not just size, but also a negative or overwhelming aspect of that size. It is most effective when implying a problem, difficulty, or negative consequence associated with the size.

Common error

Avoid using "horrendously big" when a neutral description of size is needed. Words like "large" or "huge" are more appropriate when there is no negative implication.

Linguistic Context

"Horrendously big" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate an exceptionally large size. It acts as an intensifier, augmenting the sense of 'bigness' with an implication of negativity or unwieldiness. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "horrendously big" is a grammatically correct adjective phrase used to describe something of significant size, with a distinct negative implication. As Ludwig states, it's usable in written English. While not frequently used, when employed, it emphasizes the problematic or overwhelming aspects of the size. This makes it suitable for contexts where the size is a concern, particularly in news and media. When a neutral description of size is needed, alternatives like "extremely large" or "enormously large" are more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Extremely large

A straightforward substitute focusing on the large size.

Incredibly enormous

Emphasizes the vastness of the size.

Excessively oversized

Highlights the excessiveness of the size.

Awfully massive

Similar to "horrendously big", but uses "awfully" as the intensifier.

Monstrously huge

Implies the size is almost unnatural or frightening.

Tremendously immense

Focuses on the impressive and vast scale.

Prohibitively large

Suggests the size is so great it presents a problem or obstacle.

Unfeasibly bulky

Highlights the impracticality due to the large size.

Remarkably gigantic

Emphasizes the size as being noteworthy or remarkable.

Comically large

Suggests the size is absurdly or amusingly large.

FAQs

How can I use "horrendously big" in a sentence?

"Horrendously big" is used to describe something that is extremely large and often problematic or overwhelming. For example, "The city had to deal with a horrendously big pile of garbage after the festival."

What's a good alternative to "horrendously big"?

Alternatives include "extremely large", "incredibly enormous", or "excessively oversized depending on the specific nuance you want to convey".

Is it okay to use "horrendously big" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "horrendously big" might be considered too informal for certain types of formal writing. Consider "extremely large" or "prohibitively large" as more suitable alternatives depending on the context.

What does it mean when something is described as "horrendously big"?

When something is described as "horrendously big", it implies that its size is not only large but also causes significant problems or is overwhelmingly negative in some way. It's more than just size; it's about the consequences of that size.