horribly wrong

USAGE SUMMARY

"horribly wrong" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to express disgust or disappointment with a situation that has gone badly. For example, "This plan has gone horribly wrong. We have to find another way to get the job done."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Things went horribly wrong.

The New York Times - Sports

But horribly wrong?

The Guardian - Music

A catwalk gone horribly wrong?

The New York Times - Arts

But things go horribly wrong.

The New York Times - Books

But things went horribly wrong.

The New York Times

Then it went horribly wrong.

The Guardian

Then things go horribly wrong.

The Guardian - Film

But something went horribly wrong.

The New York Times - Arts

But things could still go horribly wrong.

The Economist

Unfortunately, the whole thing went horribly wrong.

Independent

It could all go horribly, horribly wrong.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "horribly wrong" to describe situations where the outcome is significantly worse than expected, indicating a high degree of failure or error. For example: "The experiment went horribly wrong, resulting in a complete loss of data."

Common error

While "horribly wrong" is widely understood, it might be too informal for academic or business writing. Consider using more precise language like "seriously flawed" or "disastrously incorrect" in those settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "horribly wrong" functions as an adverbial modifier, intensifying the adjective "wrong". It describes the degree to which something has deviated from the intended or correct state. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a common and acceptable usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "horribly wrong" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe situations that have gone severely awry. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions as an adverbial modifier, intensifying the adjective "wrong" and conveying a strong negative evaluation. While widely used in news and media, it might be too informal for academic or business contexts, where more precise alternatives like "seriously flawed" or "disastrously incorrect" might be preferred. The examples provided by Ludwig demonstrate the phrase's versatility and widespread acceptance in general communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

badly awry

This emphasizes that a plan or situation has gone off course in a negative way, maintaining a similar level of intensity.

terribly amiss

This alternative uses "amiss" to emphasize that something has deviated from the expected course, similar to "wrong" but with a slightly more formal tone.

disastrously incorrect

This intensifies the idea of being wrong by adding "disastrously", highlighting the severe consequences of the error.

catastrophically mistaken

This emphasizes the disastrous nature of the mistake, implying severe repercussions.

seriously flawed

Focuses on the presence of significant defects that lead to failure, differing slightly from the broader sense of "wrong".

gone south

A more colloquial expression meaning that something has deteriorated or failed.

woefully inadequate

This focuses on the insufficiency of something, leading to a negative outcome.

gone pear-shaped

A British idiom suggesting that a plan or situation has gone wrong, often unexpectedly and with comedic undertones.

gone haywire

This suggests that something has become chaotic and uncontrollable, similar to going "horribly wrong".

gone to hell in a handbasket

An idiomatic expression indicating a rapid and complete deterioration, implying a lack of control and dire consequences.

FAQs

How can I use "horribly wrong" in a sentence?

You can use "horribly wrong" to describe situations that have gone very badly. For example: "The initial plan went "horribly wrong", forcing us to improvise."

What can I say instead of "horribly wrong"?

Alternatives include "terribly amiss", "seriously flawed", or "badly awry", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "horribly wrong" too informal for professional writing?

While "horribly wrong" is acceptable in many contexts, consider using more formal alternatives like "significantly flawed" or "disastrously incorrect" in professional or academic settings.

What does it mean when something is described as "gone to hell in a handbasket"?

The idiom "gone to hell in a handbasket" is a more emphatic and figurative way of saying that something has gone "horribly wrong", suggesting a rapid and irreversible decline.