less than remarkable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less than remarkable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is not impressive or noteworthy, often in a somewhat understated manner. Example: "The movie was entertaining, but its plot was less than remarkable, failing to leave a lasting impression."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

The results were nothing less than remarkable.

The New York Times - Sports

It was an inauspicious beginning to a less than remarkable first year in Nascar.

The New York Times - Sports

Kåre Hedebrant as Oskar is never less than remarkable in this Swedish horror movie.

The Guardian - Film

The progress Rwanda has made since the genocide is nothing less than remarkable.

The New York Times

COACH OF THE YEAR -- In a year when several coaches did outstanding jobs, Hubie Brown was nothing less than remarkable.

The New York Times - Sports

The marker itself, which stood amid gravel and weeds in a dusty parking area, was less than remarkable.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Even at the very highest levels, test scores might be irrelevant; apparently, Richard Feynman's I.Q. was a less-than-remarkable 125.

The New York Times - Magazine

Mr. Cantor acknowledges that his party might step too heavily now and then, and endorse a few less-than-remarkable candidates.

The New York Times

That achievement was hailed in some parts of the world, though viewed as less-than-remarkable elsewhere;  America, after all, would not be the first major country to have a female leader.

Los Angeles Times

However, aside from a couple of U.K. government grants in its formative years, the fact that the company hasn't taken any outside funding since being founded in 2008 is no-less than remarkable.

TechCrunch

DETROIT — The last two times Chrysler was sold — to Daimler-Benz in 1998 and to Cerberus Capital Management in 2007 — its new owners promised nothing less than a remarkable renaissance for the smallest of Detroit's Big Three.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "less than remarkable" when you want to politely downplay something's impressiveness without being overly critical. It's suitable for reviews, descriptions, and assessments where a balanced tone is desired.

Common error

While "less than remarkable" is a polite way to express mild disappointment, avoid overusing understatement to the point where your writing becomes vague or lacks impact. Be direct when necessary to convey your message clearly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less than remarkable" functions as an adjective phrase, typically modifying a noun to indicate that something does not reach a high standard of quality or impressiveness. Ludwig AI validates this with examples illustrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "less than remarkable" is a phrase used to describe something that is not particularly impressive or outstanding. It functions as an adjective phrase and is suitable for neutral contexts, as supported by Ludwig AI. While grammatically correct, its usage is uncommon. Related phrases include "somewhat ordinary" and "not particularly impressive". Be mindful of overusing understatement in your writing, and consider more direct alternatives when necessary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not particularly impressive

States directly that something does not create a strong positive impression, similar to "less than remarkable" but more explicit.

not especially outstanding

Emphasizes the absence of exceptional quality, directly highlighting that something is not distinguished, very similar to "less than remarkable".

rather unexceptional

Suggests a higher degree of ordinariness, implying a stronger lack of special qualities than "less than remarkable".

somewhat ordinary

Indicates something is more typical and lacks distinction compared to "less than remarkable".

kind of underwhelming

Uses a more casual tone to describe something that fails to excite or impress, akin to "less than remarkable" in its mild criticism.

somewhat disappointing

Implies a failure to meet expectations, adding a layer of dissatisfaction not present in "less than remarkable".

slightly run-of-the-mill

Indicates a lack of uniqueness and originality, akin to describing something standard as opposed to outstanding compared to "less than remarkable".

marginally mediocre

Highlights the averageness with slight negativity, conveying a sense of underperformance to a small degree compared to "less than remarkable".

notably average

Highlights the typical nature, conveying lack of interesting characteristics when something is "notably average" compared to "less than remarkable".

fairly pedestrian

Conveys a sense of being commonplace and lacking in imagination, a more negative connotation than "less than remarkable".

FAQs

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

You can use "less than remarkable" to describe something that is not particularly impressive or noteworthy. For example, "The food was good, but the service was "less than remarkable"".

What's a more direct alternative to "less than remarkable"?

If you want to be more straightforward, consider using alternatives like "unimpressive", "average", or "mediocre" instead of ""less than remarkable"".

Is it better to say "nothing less than remarkable" or "less than remarkable"?

"Nothing less than remarkable" expresses high praise, meaning something is exceptionally impressive. "Less than remarkable" indicates the opposite, suggesting something is ordinary or underwhelming.

When should I use "less than remarkable" instead of "unremarkable"?

"Less than remarkable" is useful when you want to soften your criticism. "Unremarkable" is a more neutral term, while ""less than remarkable"" gently implies a slight disappointment.