is somewhat amusing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is somewhat amusing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that something is mildly funny or entertaining, often in a light-hearted or sarcastic manner. Example: "The way he tried to fix the car without any tools is somewhat amusing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

It is somewhat amusing though.

The Guardian - Sport

The introduction of Khan is just one of dozens of allusions and callbacks to the earlier series and movies, and it is somewhat amusing to see old chestnuts recast in a slick new package.

The New Yorker

This exercise in educational-reform propaganda, directed by Daniel Barnz, is somewhat amusing in the way it turns the traditional strike drama on its head, but it is so strident and tone-deaf that even those who sympathize with its anti-labor views — to say nothing of the union members who make up the cast — may find themselves embarrassed.

The New York Times

Nevertheless, the ending of the open letter is somewhat amusing.

TechCrunch

While this is somewhat amusing, it's also a waste of time a daily waste of time and god forbid if you were to leave your box alone for more than a few days; it can take hours to sort through the spam.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"If you know how to schmooze, and you know how to address a jury, and you're somewhat amusing, that goes a long way," said N. G. Berrill, a psychologist and the executive director of the New York Center for Neuropsychology and Forensic Behavioral Science.

The New York Times

By Amy Davidson Sorkin August 26, 2010 It was somewhat amusing to hear, in Marc Ambinder's account of how Ken Mehlman, the former Republican National Committee chairman, came out to him, that Mehlman is particularly sorry about not getting enough gay votes for the Republican party.

The New Yorker

It was somewhat amusing to hear, in Marc Ambinder's account of how Ken Mehlman, the former Republican National Committee chairman, came out to him, that Mehlman is particularly sorry about not getting enough gay votes for the Republican party.

The New Yorker

Otherwise, why get up?" Ms. Rice added that it was "somewhat amusing" that Mrs. Clinton would question Mr. Obama's experience while at the same time touting him as a potential vice president.

The New York Times

It's somewhat amusing to forget why I walked into a room at home.

Huffington Post

Writing for The A.V. Club, television reviewer Hayden Childs commented that "Exit Through the Kwik-E-Mart" was "somewhat amusing and far more coherent than many recent episodes, but the satire is relatively mild.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To avoid overuse, consider alternatives like "is rather amusing" or "is slightly amusing" depending on the desired nuance and context.

Common error

Avoid using "is somewhat amusing" when the situation evokes strong feelings of joy or hilarity. This phrase is best reserved for scenarios where the humor is subtle or ironic, not outright side-splitting.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is somewhat amusing" functions as a subject complement, describing a quality or characteristic of the subject. It conveys a subjective assessment of something being mildly or moderately funny or entertaining, as supported by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is somewhat amusing" is a versatile expression used to convey a mild degree of amusement. As Ludwig AI states, it's grammatically correct and suitable for expressing that something is mildly funny or entertaining. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, this phrase serves as a subtle way to express amusement without overstating one's feelings. While alternatives like "is rather amusing" or "is quite amusing" offer similar sentiments, "is somewhat amusing" carries a more reserved and understated tone. Therefore, selecting this phrase allows the writer to express entertainment without leaning into heavy emotions or making a blunt statement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is rather amusing

Replaces "somewhat" with "rather", indicating a slightly higher degree of amusement.

is quite amusing

Substitutes "somewhat" with "quite", suggesting a more noticeable level of amusement.

is mildly amusing

Replaces "somewhat" with "mildly", emphasizing the gentle nature of the amusement.

is a little amusing

Uses "a little" instead of "somewhat", indicating a smaller degree of amusement.

is slightly amusing

Replaces "somewhat" with "slightly", conveying a subtle sense of amusement.

is somewhat funny

Substitutes "amusing" with "funny", offering a more common and informal alternative.

is kind of amusing

Replaces "somewhat" with "kind of", making the phrase more colloquial.

is a bit amusing

Uses "a bit" in place of "somewhat", suggesting a casual and understated amusement.

is moderately amusing

Replaces "somewhat" with "moderately", suggesting a more measured and balanced degree of amusement.

is faintly amusing

Substitutes "somewhat" with "faintly", indicating a barely perceptible amusement.

FAQs

How can I use "is somewhat amusing" in a sentence?

You can use "is somewhat amusing" to express that something is mildly funny or entertaining. For example, "The way he tried to explain the situation "is somewhat amusing" considering he was the one who caused it."

What can I say instead of "is somewhat amusing"?

You can use alternatives like "is rather amusing", "is quite amusing", or "is slightly amusing" depending on the context and desired level of emphasis.

Is it more formal to say "is somewhat amusing" or "is a little amusing"?

"Is somewhat amusing" tends to be slightly more formal than "is a little amusing", which is more casual. The best choice depends on the overall tone and audience of your writing.

What's the difference between "is somewhat amusing" and "is very amusing"?

"Is somewhat amusing" indicates a mild or understated sense of amusement, while "is very amusing" suggests a stronger and more overt sense of amusement. The former is more subtle and reserved, while the latter is more expressive.