it sounds terrible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it sounds terrible" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a negative opinion or reaction to something that has been said or proposed, indicating that it is unpleasant or undesirable. Example: "After hearing the details of the plan, I must say, it sounds terrible and needs to be reconsidered."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

It sounds terrible, termination, and it was.

The New Yorker

It sounds terrible, but he understands.

The Guardian - Sport

Mills: I know it sounds terrible.

The Guardian

But it sounds terrible to say it.

The New Yorker

It sounds terrible, but it's quite wonderful.

The Guardian - Travel

It seems unlikely, mainly because it sounds terrible.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

"I tried, but it sounded terrible".

The Guardian

"I didn't know what he was screaming about," John France recalled, "but it sounded terrible.

The New York Times - Sports

It sounded terrible when first announced, promising a character who is also a graffitti artist.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

He wrote about this in detail in his Radio Times column and it sounded terrible, but he shrugs it off today as "a minor brush with illness".

The Guardian

We'd already tried to make an acid house record and it sounded terrible; now we did Only Love Can Break Your Heart.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it sounds terrible" when you want to express a strong negative reaction or disapproval of something you've heard or been told. It's often followed by an explanation or justification of why it sounds that way.

Common error

Avoid using "it sounds terrible" as a standalone statement without providing context or explanation. Always elaborate on why something sounds terrible to make your statement more meaningful and avoid sounding dismissive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it sounds terrible" primarily functions as an evaluative expression, used to convey a negative assessment or judgment about something previously mentioned. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used to express a negative opinion.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Wiki

7%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it sounds terrible" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression for conveying a negative evaluation or reaction. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and the Ludwig examples show it's commonly found in news and media, used to express disapproval or concern. Alternatives like "it sounds awful" or "it sounds horrific" can be used to vary the intensity of the sentiment. When using this phrase, it's best to provide context to explain why something sounds terrible, enhancing clarity and impact. Understanding its nuances helps writers and speakers communicate more effectively in diverse situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it sounds awful

Replaces "terrible" with "awful", indicating something unpleasant or of poor quality, but with a potentially slightly lighter tone.

it sounds horrible

Similar to "it sounds awful", but carries a stronger sense of unpleasantness or disgust.

it sounds horrific

Substitutes "terrible" with "horrific", intensifying the negative feeling to suggest something extremely shocking or dreadful.

it sounds dreadful

Replaces "terrible" with "dreadful", implying a sense of great fear or apprehension about the subject.

it sounds alarming

Replaces "terrible" with "alarming", suggesting a cause for concern or fear about something.

it sounds gruesome

Replaces "terrible" with "gruesome", which suggests something repulsive and causing horror, usually related to violence or death.

it sounds catastrophic

Uses "catastrophic" to express that something is a huge disaster, rather than simply undesirable.

that doesn't sound good

Uses a more indirect way of expressing negativity by saying something doesn't sound positive.

that sounds unpleasant

Uses a more formal and polite term, "unpleasant", to convey a sense of something disagreeable.

that's not ideal

Understates the negativity, using "not ideal" as a euphemism for something undesirable.

FAQs

What does "it sounds terrible" mean?

The phrase "it sounds terrible" is used to express that something seems very bad, unpleasant, or undesirable based on what you've heard or know about it. It indicates a negative judgment or opinion.

What can I say instead of "it sounds terrible"?

You can use alternatives like "it sounds awful", "it sounds horrific", or "it sounds dreadful" to express similar sentiments with varying degrees of intensity.

Is "it sounds terrible" formal or informal?

"It sounds terrible" is generally considered neutral in formality. It's suitable for most everyday conversations but might be replaced with a more sophisticated phrase like "that sounds deeply concerning" in formal settings.

How can I use "it sounds terrible" in a sentence?

You can use "it sounds terrible" to react to news or proposals. For example, "I heard about the budget cuts; it sounds terrible for the education sector" or "The idea of working every weekend? It sounds terrible."