massively outnumbered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "massively outnumbered" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where one group is significantly larger in number compared to another group, often in contexts like battles, competitions, or debates. Example: "The small team was massively outnumbered by their opponents, making victory seem nearly impossible."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

"We are massively outnumbered," said Jeremy K. Nicholson, chairman of biological chemistry and head of the department of surgery and cancer at Imperial College London.

The New York Times - Health

However, geese remain massively outnumbered by turkeys, with 10m turkeys consumed in the UK last Christmas, compared with just 250,000 geese.

The Guardian - Business

But these incidents have been massively outnumbered by the large numbers of local people who have gone out of their way to make their new neighbours feel welcome.

The Guardian

Business secretary Vince Cable was faced with a dilemma about how to allocate the shares fairly after a frenzy of applications massively outnumbered the amount of shares being offered.

Independent

Although the government has an overall majority of 12 seats in the Commons, Cameron is massively outnumbered in the House of Lords, and his whips will have to be alert to any signs of rebellions by backbench MPs, possibly made restive by the prime minister's promotion of an insufficiently ambitious EU renegotiation agenda.

The Guardian

Massively outnumbered, the guards decided to open the barriers, and the division of Germany ended.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

In Las Vegas, tourists massively outnumber Clark County's two million permanent residents: 42.9 million people visited in 2016 alone.

The New Yorker

Follow Mike Diver on Twitter.

Vice

It's true that media in the UK has an occasional habit of focusing unduly on Israeli casualties in any outbreak of violence, while ignoring Palestinian ones (or of devoting equal time to both in an attempt at impartiality, when deaths on the Palestinian side tend to massively outnumber those in Israel).

Vice

We know this because the set of possible people allowed by our DNA so massively outnumbers the set of actual people.

The Guardian

Noisy publicity over the giant building works it entails brought scrutiny of labour practices in the emirate, where foreign workers, many of them ill paid, harshly treated and denied basic rights, massively outnumber its 280,000 privileged citizens.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "massively outnumbered", ensure the context clearly establishes the groups being compared and the significance of the numerical disparity. The phrase is most effective when highlighting an imbalance that creates a challenge or disadvantage.

Common error

Avoid using "massively outnumbered" when the difference in numbers is only marginal. The phrase implies a very large or overwhelming difference; using it for smaller differences weakens its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "massively outnumbered" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe the state of being significantly fewer in number. Ludwig examples show the phrase describing troops, defenders, and even shares in the stock market.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

12%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "massively outnumbered" is a grammatically sound and frequently used way to describe a situation where one group is significantly smaller in number than another. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is most commonly found in News & Media sources, with secondary usage in Wiki and Science domains. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure that the numerical disparity is indeed substantial to avoid weakening the phrase's impact. Alternatives like "greatly outnumbered" or "heavily outnumbered" can be considered depending on the desired level of emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

greatly outnumbered

This alternative uses 'greatly' which is a general term for 'much' or 'considerably', indicating a large numerical difference without the emphasis of 'massively'.

heavily outnumbered

This alternative uses 'heavily' implying a substantial imbalance, often in a context where weight or force is a factor, such as military conflicts.

vastly outnumbered

This alternative uses 'vastly' emphasizing the extensive scale of the numerical difference.

substantially outnumbered

This alternative uses 'substantially', indicating a considerable and important difference in numbers.

significantly outnumbered

This alternative uses 'significantly' highlighting that the numerical difference is noteworthy and impactful.

overwhelmingly outnumbered

This alternative uses 'overwhelmingly', suggesting that the numerical disparity is so large as to be difficult to overcome.

considerably outnumbered

This alternative uses 'considerably', indicating a noticeable and appreciable difference in numbers.

hopelessly outnumbered

This alternative emphasizes the feeling of despair associated with facing a much larger force.

badly outnumbered

This alternative uses 'badly', which is a more informal term, implying a negative consequence of being outnumbered.

largely outnumbered

This alternative uses 'largely' indicating that the difference is substantial, focusing on the size of the larger group.

FAQs

How can I use "massively outnumbered" in a sentence?

You can use "massively outnumbered" to describe situations where one group is significantly smaller than another, such as "The rebels were "heavily outnumbered" by the government forces" or "The geese are "vastly outnumbered" by turkeys during Christmas."

What are some alternatives to "massively outnumbered"?

Alternatives include "greatly outnumbered", "heavily outnumbered", or "overwhelmingly outnumbered", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "massively outnumbered" in formal writing?

Yes, "massively outnumbered" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when you want to emphasize a significant numerical disparity. However, consider the impact of the word "massively" and whether a more neutral term like "significantly outnumbered" might be more suitable.

What's the difference between "massively outnumbered" and "slightly outnumbered"?

"Massively outnumbered" indicates a very large numerical difference, while "slightly outnumbered" suggests a small difference. The choice depends on the actual scale of the numerical disparity you are describing.