legitimately impressed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "legitimately impressed" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used to describe a genuine feeling of admiration or astonishment. Here is an example: "After watching her intense performance, I was legitimately impressed by the actress's talent and dedication to her craft."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Houston said his wife was legitimately impressed with his acting, and though he is noncommittal about his future in the field, admitted to being tickled about the positive feedback he has gotten.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Kerkorian is "legitimately impressed with Ford's turnaround plan" but the purchase offer "is a smokescreen," Healy said.

Forbes

Not impressed.

The New York Times - Tech

She impressed.

Independent

Impressed yet?

The New York Times

Very impressed.

The New Yorker

Gallbladder hematoma was impressed.

Critical Ultrasound Journal

I was deeply impressed.

Environmental Sciences Europe

That really impressed my teacher...

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Flock impressed.

TechCrunch

Marginal epipleural stria complete and finely impressed.

Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "legitimately impressed" to convey a sense of genuine surprise and admiration. Ensure the context supports the idea that the impression is well-founded and not superficial.

Common error

Avoid using "legitimately" simply as an intensifier. Ensure it adds meaningful value by emphasizing the genuine basis for the impression, rather than just being a superfluous addition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "legitimately impressed" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, where the adverb "legitimately" modifies the adjective "impressed". This construction serves to emphasize the genuine and valid nature of the feeling of being impressed, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "legitimately impressed" is a phrase used to convey a genuine sense of admiration or astonishment. Grammatically correct, it is typically found in news and media and some scientific contexts, though not as frequently as other similar phrases. According to Ludwig, the phrase serves to emphasize the valid and sincere nature of being impressed. When using this phrase, ensure the context supports the genuineness of the impression. While versatile, it's important to avoid overuse and ensure that "legitimately" adds meaningful emphasis rather than serving as mere filler. Some great alternatives are "genuinely astonished" and "truly amazed".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rightfully impressed

Indicates that the feeling of being impressed is justified or deserved.

fairly impressed

Emphasizes the fairness and reasonableness behind the feeling of being impressed.

genuinely astonished

Replaces "impressed" with "astonished", emphasizing surprise and wonder.

veritably astonished

Uses "veritably" to strongly emphasize the feeling of being astonished.

truly amazed

Substitutes "legitimately impressed" with a more emphatic expression of amazement.

sincerely admired

Focuses on the aspect of admiration being genuine and heartfelt.

justifiably pleased

Shifts the focus to being pleased for valid reasons, instead of impressed.

understandably wowed

Uses "wowed" as a more informal synonym for impressed, suggesting a strong positive reaction.

appropriately appreciative

Highlights the feeling of gratitude and recognition of value.

deservedly lauded

Implies that someone or something is being praised in a way that is warranted.

FAQs

How can I use "legitimately impressed" in a sentence?

You can use "legitimately impressed" to describe a genuine feeling of admiration or astonishment. For instance, "I was legitimately impressed by her dedication to the project".

What are some alternatives to "legitimately impressed"?

Alternatives include "genuinely astonished", "truly amazed", or "sincerely admired", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "legitimately impressed" formal or informal?

"Legitimately impressed" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness largely depends on the surrounding language and the overall tone of your writing.

What's the difference between "legitimately impressed" and "slightly impressed"?

"Legitimately impressed" suggests a strong and genuine feeling of admiration. In contrast, "slightly impressed" indicates a mild or subdued positive reaction.