less than awesome

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less than awesome" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is not as good as expected or desired, often in a casual or informal context. Example: "The movie was less than awesome; I expected much more from the director."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Tech

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Less than awesome.

The Guardian - Film

Anything less than awesome will be considered a failure.

The Guardian - Film

The sight of the presidential motorcade growling through Red Square, literally pulling up to the front door of the "evil empire" was nothing less than awesome.

The Guardian

[Brownstoner] Flying in the face of yesterday's poll indicating New Yorkers are less than awesome, three strangers help a family drive from Detroit to New York to attend a father's funeral.

The New York Times

Even that sea-tied people, the British, need no longer go "overseas" to reach foreign lands; instead they can travel "underseas", to France.The ocean, in short, has become redundant as a travelling necessity, and less than awesome as an adversary.

The Economist

Because there was no student government, the outlet for his ambition was the Yale Political Union, a group divided into political parties that spent their time debating issues, arranging speeches by political celebrities and fighting over who got to be in charge of these less than awesome responsibilities.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

"Yeah, it lets a lot of light in," says Matt. "We connect to people who show their less-than-awesome sides because we all know that we're all filled with these negative and uncool parts of our brain and heart, so when somebody else shares that it makes you feel safer in the world".

The Guardian - Music

On the earnings front, Netflix missed expectations and Google reported less-than-awesome results.

TechCrunch

Following Google's less-than-awesome earnings report, combined with a pre-market rise from Microsoft, the two tech giants are neck-and-neck for market cap supremacy.

TechCrunch

The best news is that it'll run Android 2.2 (aka Froyo), the not-best news is that it'll probably also run Samsung's less-than-awesome TouchWiz 3.0 UI (coz Samsung love it so).

TechCrunch

Less Than Jake.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience. While generally acceptable, it may not be appropriate for formal or highly professional settings.

Common error

Avoid using "less than awesome" in formal reports, academic papers, or business communications. Opt for more professional alternatives like "suboptimal" or "unsatisfactory".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less than awesome" functions as an evaluative descriptor, softening a negative assessment. As evidenced by Ludwig, it's used to express disappointment or that something did not meet expectations, but in a casual way. It's a less harsh way of saying something is bad.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Tech

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "less than awesome" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express mild disappointment or something that doesn't quite meet expectations. As Ludwig AI points out, it's best suited for informal contexts and should be avoided in formal or professional communications where more precise and professional language is required. While the phrase appears across various sources, it's most commonly found in News & Media, making it a moderately frequent expression in general usage. Remember to consider your audience and the context when choosing whether to use "less than awesome" or opt for a more suitable alternative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not great

A simple way of saying something isn't very good.

underwhelming

Describes something that fails to impress or excite.

disappointing

Expresses a feeling of dissatisfaction because something was not as good as hoped.

not up to par

Suggests a failure to meet a standard or expectation.

subpar

Indicates a level below the usual or expected standard.

mediocre

Describes something of only moderate quality; not very good.

not ideal

Indicates a situation or outcome is not the best possible.

unsatisfactory

Indicates failure to satisfy expectations or requirements.

deficient

Highlights a lack of something necessary or desirable.

inadequate

Suggests something is not sufficient for a particular purpose.

FAQs

How can I use "less than awesome" in a sentence?

You can use "less than awesome" to describe something that didn't meet expectations. For instance, "The service at the restaurant was "less than awesome", unfortunately."

What are some alternatives to "less than awesome"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "not great", "underwhelming", or "disappointing" instead of "less than awesome".

Is "less than awesome" appropriate for professional communication?

While "less than awesome" is widely understood, it's generally better to use more formal language in professional contexts. Consider using "suboptimal" or "unsatisfactory" instead.

When is it best to use "less than awesome" over other similar phrases?

"Less than awesome" is best used when you want to express mild disappointment or downplay a negative situation. It's more casual than saying something is "terrible" or "awful".