is ill founded

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is ill founded" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an argument, claim, or belief that lacks a solid basis or justification. Example: "The accusation against him is ill founded, as there is no evidence to support it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

We can see, for example, that the show's reputation as improvisatory and chaotic is ill founded.

The New York Times - Arts

He reminded us that the great white's reputation as a maneater is ill founded.

The New York Times - Travel

Thus, the line of criticism represented by the quotation from Mill is ill founded.

SEP

It is ill founded, however, and I think the Obama forces are correct when they supply the retort, which Hillary and her managers should have foreseen.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"I think all the claims were ill founded," Mrs. Pollack said.

The New York Times

Owers said fears armed officers would be treated as suspects if they opened fire were ill founded.

The Guardian

Roland Schiff, president of the Tribunal de Commerce de Paris, said the claim was "ill founded" and threw out the case.

The New York Times

On the day the report was published, Better Capital said the accusations it had deliberately avoided telling employees about the company's problems were ill founded.

The Guardian - Business

Carlyn Meyer Chicago, Feb. 3, 2011 • To the Editor: Re "Israel, Alone Again?," by Yossi Klein Halevi (Op-Ed, Feb. 2): Fears of a Muslim Brotherhood takeover of Egypt are ill founded.

The New York Times

And despite early predictions that there were so few films featuring women in starring roles this year that the awards committees would struggle to find enough nominees, these fears were ill founded.

Independent

"The Illitches have been in this city for a long time and have a very long track record of doing what they say and creating jobs in the city," he said, adding that economic studies had shown the benefits of the project and criticisms were "ill founded and not based on facts".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is ill founded" to formally and directly express that a claim, belief, or fear lacks a reasonable basis. It is best suited for contexts where a straightforward and clear rejection of the validity of something is required.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "is ill founded" may sound overly formal or stilted in casual conversation. Opt for alternatives like "unfounded" or "baseless" for a more natural tone in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is ill founded" functions as a predicate adjective, describing a noun or idea as lacking a valid foundation or basis. Ludwig AI examples show it often modifies claims, fears, or criticisms, indicating they are not well-supported.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is ill founded" is a grammatically correct adjectival phrase used to describe something lacking a solid basis or justification. Ludwig AI confirms it is used in a range of contexts, from news and media to scientific discussions, although it is relatively rare in overall usage. It carries a formal tone and is best used when a clear and direct expression of disagreement or skepticism is required. Alternatives such as "is unfounded" or "is baseless" may be more appropriate in informal settings. As Ludwig AI suggests, using the phrase correctly involves understanding its formal nature and choosing the right context to effectively communicate a lack of valid support.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is unfounded

This alternative directly replaces 'ill founded' with 'unfounded', maintaining a very close semantic similarity.

is baseless

This alternative uses 'baseless' instead of 'ill founded', emphasizing the absence of a base or foundation.

is without foundation

This phrase provides a more verbose but semantically similar way of expressing the lack of a solid base.

is groundless

This alternative replaces 'ill founded' with 'groundless', highlighting the absence of valid grounds or reasons.

is unsupported

This alternative focuses on the lack of support or evidence for the claim or belief.

is unjustified

This emphasizes the lack of justification, making it unreasonable or unfair.

is untenable

Suggests the claim cannot be defended or maintained due to lack of support.

is flimsy

Highlights the weakness and lack of substance in the argument or claim.

is questionable

Implies doubt and uncertainty about the validity or basis of something.

is dubious

Similar to 'questionable' but carries a stronger connotation of doubt and suspicion.

FAQs

What does it mean when something "is ill founded"?

When a claim, idea, or belief "is ill founded", it means it lacks a sound basis in logic, fact, or evidence. It is essentially without a solid foundation and therefore likely to be incorrect or unreliable.

How to use "is ill founded" in a sentence?

Use "is ill founded" to describe something that lacks a basis or justification. For example: "The rumor that the company is going bankrupt "is ill founded" because they just released a profitable earnings report."

Which is correct: "is ill founded" or "is unfounded"?

Both "is ill founded" and "is unfounded" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. "Is unfounded" is generally more common and might be preferred in less formal contexts, while "is ill founded" has a slightly more formal tone.

What can I say instead of "is ill founded"?

You can use alternatives like "is unfounded", "is baseless", or "is groundless" depending on the context. All these options imply a lack of adequate support or justification.