looks much less

USAGE SUMMARY

'looks much less' is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It can be used in a variety of contexts to convey the idea that something appears to be significantly reduced or diminished compared to its previous state or to something else. Example: After the renovations, the living room looks much less cluttered and more spacious. In comparison to the original version, the new product design looks much less appealing.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

That distinction now looks much less desirable.

The New York Times

Today it looks much less secure.The map's political features also bear examination.

The Economist

That mix looks much less formidable if Revis is not a part of it.

The New York Times - Sports

That problem isn't completely absent this time around, but it looks much less serious.

The New York Times

The IPL is "pretty much recession-proof"; English county cricket looks much less robust.

The Economist

A Golkar defection would have left them with about 60%.This now looks much less likely.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

What it has is gallons of gore and great-looking guys getting it on with great-looking women who are moralistically revealed later to look much less hot without their makeup.

The Guardian

T: You're looking much less austere than usual, O'Brien.

The New Yorker

I felt much safer, and my wife looked much less worried.

The New York Times

But the S.U.V. boom made these problems look much less urgent.

The New Yorker

If not, their foray into China might look much less smart.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "looks much less" to effectively convey a noticeable reduction in appearance, quality, or likelihood. Ensure the context provides a clear point of comparison for the reduction.

Common error

Avoid using "looks much less" without a clear reference point. The comparison should be evident to the reader to prevent ambiguity about what is diminished.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "looks much less" functions as a comparative descriptor, modifying a subject by indicating a diminished appearance or quality. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it’s grammatically sound. Examples show it describing reduced desirability, security, or attractiveness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

13%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "looks much less" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a noticeable reduction in the appearance, quality, or likelihood of something, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's frequently used in News & Media to convey subjective assessments of changing situations, as well as appearing in Science. While "looks much less" is not overtly formal, ensuring clarity by providing a clear point of comparison is essential for effective communication. For alternative expressions, you could use "appears significantly reduced" or "seems considerably diminished".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

appears significantly reduced

Emphasizes the visual aspect and the substantial degree of reduction.

seems considerably diminished

Highlights the perceived reduction in a more formal tone.

is noticeably smaller

Focuses on a physical reduction in size or scope.

presents a weaker image

Conveys a less impactful or influential appearance.

is far from as impressive

Indicates a significant gap in impressiveness compared to a previous state or alternative.

is substantially lessened

Highlights the considerable decrease in something.

feels considerably lighter

Focuses on reduced emotional or physical weight.

projects much less confidence

Highlights a reduction in perceived confidence.

displays substantially fewer

Focuses on a reduction in quantity or number.

is nowhere near as strong

Emphasizes a significant deficiency in strength or power.

FAQs

How can I use "looks much less" in a sentence?

You can use "looks much less" to describe a reduction in appearance, quality, or likelihood. For example, "After the renovation, the house "looks much less" cluttered."

What's a formal way to say "looks much less"?

A more formal way to express the same idea is "appears significantly reduced" or "seems considerably diminished".

Is it correct to say "looks less much" instead of "looks much less"?

No, the correct phrasing is ""looks much less"". The reverse order is grammatically incorrect and sounds awkward.

What's the difference between "looks much less" and "is much less"?

"Looks much less" implies a visual or perceived difference, while "is much less" indicates an actual quantifiable difference. For example, "The problem "looks much less" serious now" suggests a change in perception, whereas "The debt is much less than before" indicates a measurable reduction.