less entertaining

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less entertaining" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare the entertainment value of two or more things, indicating that one is not as entertaining as the other. Example: "While the first movie was thrilling, the sequel was less entertaining and failed to capture the audience's attention."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The truth is less entertaining.

The New York Times - Arts

This material is even less entertaining.

The New York Times - Books

That would be much less entertaining.

The New Yorker

Penguins don't get any less entertaining.

The Guardian

Without YouTube, it would become significantly less entertaining.

The New York Times - Tech

Others were relatively short-lived, but no less entertaining.

The New Yorker

Considering the subject with which it deals it is rather frivolous, but none the less entertaining.

The New York Times

The trip across the harbor takes just five minutes now and is less entertaining.

The New York Times - Travel

But its very preposterousness doesn't make the movie any less entertaining.

The New York Times

It was actually the knock-out stages I found on the whole to be less entertaining.

The Guardian - Sport

Before that, most television was government-owned and taxpayer-financed, more educational than American television but less entertaining.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing two subjects, use "less entertaining" to directly highlight the difference in their ability to provide amusement or enjoyment. For example: "The sequel was visually impressive, but ultimately, "less entertaining" than the original".

Common error

Avoid using "less entertaining" when you simply mean something is not entertaining at all. "Less entertaining" implies a comparison. If something lacks entertainment value entirely, consider using alternatives like "boring" or "uninteresting".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less entertaining" functions primarily as a comparative adjective phrase. It serves to describe a noun, indicating that it possesses a lower degree of entertainment value when compared to another noun. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Academia

9%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "less entertaining" is a grammatically sound and commonly used comparative adjective phrase that serves to indicate a lower degree of amusement or enjoyment relative to something else. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, but also has some presence in academic writing. When using this phrase, ensure you are making a comparison and not simply stating that something is not entertaining at all. Consider alternatives like "not as engaging" or "more tedious" for nuanced expressions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not as engaging

Focuses on the reduced ability to capture and hold someone's attention.

not as amusing

Highlights a decrease in the ability to cause laughter or provide lighthearted pleasure.

less captivating

Emphasizes a reduction in the power to attract and hold interest.

less diverting

Indicates a reduced ability to distract from boredom or worry.

not as interesting

Focuses on the decreased ability to pique curiosity or hold interest.

less stimulating

Highlights a decrease in the ability to excite or invigorate the mind or senses.

more tedious

Shifts the focus to the quality of being tiresome or boring.

more dull

Emphasizes the lack of excitement or interest.

not as thrilling

Indicates a reduction in the ability to produce a sense of excitement and adventure.

comparatively boring

Directly compares the subject's level of boredom to something else.

FAQs

How can I use "less entertaining" in a sentence?

Use "less entertaining" to compare two or more things, indicating one provides less amusement. For example: "The book was well-written, but the movie adaptation was "less entertaining"".

What are some alternatives to saying "less entertaining"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "not as engaging", "not as amusing", or "more tedious" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "least entertaining" instead of "less entertaining"?

While both are grammatically correct, "least entertaining" implies something is the absolute worst in terms of entertainment value among a group, whereas "less entertaining" simply indicates it's not as enjoyable as something else.

What's the difference between "less entertaining" and "unentertaining"?

"Less entertaining" compares the entertainment value of two or more things, while "unentertaining" simply means something lacks entertainment value altogether.