least viable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "least viable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the option or alternative that is the least practical or feasible among a set of choices. Example: "After evaluating all the proposals, we determined that the least viable option was the one with the highest costs and lowest expected returns."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Of my top five forum themes, the least viable, according to data collected by polling my wife, was TED, which stands for "Technology, Puppies, Design".

The New Yorker

But if their new bacterium is at least viable, it will have 43 codons that can be re-assigned to other tasks.The debate evolvesWhere all this will lead is anybody's guess.

The Economist

The idea of placing plants in public ownership following the financial crisis that led to Tata Steel deciding to sell its British operations was seen as the least viable option during an emergency meeting between the prime minister and his ministers.

The Guardian - Business

However, significant weaknesses make this option the least viable for consumers.

TechCrunch

The general picture, valid for both scenarios and their production pathways on the district level, is that SRC was economically most competitive against a "ORWB" crop rotation and least viable against a "MWMW" crop rotation under the given scenario conditions.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

I suppose I could have actually researched the story as it had been assigned, but for some reason, that seemed to be the least viable option.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

In the late 20th century there was substantial nationalization of foreign-owned enterprise in the West Indies because of pressure from governments and, in the Commonwealth Caribbean, as a result of the willingness of companies to surrender their least-viable operations and to use the compensation to open up activities elsewhere.

Encyclopedia Britannica

While crosses with B. crispa as maternal parent always produced at least some viable seed, no viable seeds were produced in any heterospecific cross with B. crispa as paternal parent.

BMC Plant Biology

+ ⋯ ] = e − U L + U L / 2 (5)and is thus e − U L / 2. A plot of surviving infectious particles (parent genomes producing at least some viable progeny) would be log-linear with slope − U, but the number of viable progeny from mutagenized parents would have slope −1.5 U.

Genetics

If the latter, the option of staying and fighting remains at least theoretically viable.

The New Yorker

Such scenarios are highly controversial, and there are at least equally viable alternative ideas, he said.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing multiple options, use "least viable" to clearly indicate which one is the least likely to succeed or be practical. This helps provide a concise evaluation of each choice.

Common error

Avoid using "least viable" when you mean "least valuable". "Viable" refers to feasibility and the ability to succeed, while "valuable" refers to worth or importance. Using the terms interchangeably will confuse your message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "least viable" primarily functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate which option or entity possesses the lowest degree of feasibility or likelihood of success. Ludwig AI examples show it used in contexts ranging from business decisions to scientific evaluations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2.5%

Wiki

2.5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "least viable" is a grammatically sound and useful way to express that something is the least likely to succeed or be practical among several options. According to Ludwig, this phrase is most frequently encountered in news media and scientific writing. When using the phrase, be sure not to confuse "viable" with "valuable", and consider alternative phrases such as "most impractical" or "least feasible" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

most impractical

Changes the emphasis to the degree of practicality, focusing on the lack of feasibility.

least feasible

Replaces "viable" with "feasible", highlighting the lack of possibility or ease of achievement.

most unrealistic

Shifts the focus to the absence of realism, suggesting the option is not grounded in reality.

least likely to succeed

Directly addresses the probability of success, indicating a low chance of achieving the desired outcome.

most unsustainable

Emphasizes the inability to maintain or continue the option over time.

most untenable

Highlights the indefensibility or insupportability of the option.

least promising

Focuses on the lack of positive prospects or potential in the option.

most unworkable

Indicates that the option is not capable of being put into practice or operation.

least effective

Highlights the low level of effectiveness compared to other options.

most disadvantageous

Focuses on the negative consequences or drawbacks of the option.

FAQs

How can I use "least viable" in a sentence?

You can use "least viable" to describe the option or alternative that is the least practical or feasible. For example: "After evaluating all the proposals, we determined that the "least viable" option was the one with the highest costs and lowest expected returns."

What are some alternatives to "least viable"?

Alternatives include phrases like "most impractical", "least feasible", or "most unrealistic", depending on the specific context. Each alternative emphasizes a different aspect of why the option is unsuitable.

What is the difference between "least viable" and "least practical"?

"Least viable" emphasizes the inability of something to succeed or sustain itself, while "least practical" focuses on the difficulty or inconvenience of implementing it. While similar, "least practical" highlights usability more than potential for success.

Is it better to say "least viable option" or "most non-viable option"?

"Least viable option" is generally preferred because it is more concise and commonly used. "Most non-viable option" is grammatically correct but can sound awkward or less natural.