monumental waste of time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "monumental waste of time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an activity or situation that is perceived as extremely unproductive or pointless. Example: "After spending hours in that meeting, I realized it was a monumental waste of time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

The novel is a monumental waste of time.

The New Yorker

It is all a monumental waste of time, even if you live in Ohio.

The Economist

Eric Abetz has just apologised to McLachlan and Donnelly "for this absolute monumental waste of time".

The Guardian

The new "cadence" imposed on the scrum engagement, all that "crouch, touch, pause, kiss, exchange phone numbers" nonsense, has proved a monumental waste of time.

Independent

But she called the House food stamp bill a "monumental" waste of time and added that it had no chance of passing in the Senate.

The New York Times

After all, we've been told that counting them is the foundation for dietetic rectitude, but it's beginning to look like a monumental waste of time.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Precision You can try out hacks that wind up being a monumental waste of your time and effort -- and a major detour from your goals.

Huffington Post

I tried to get as much accomplished as possible while driving, because just sitting behind the wheel felt like a monumental waste of valuable time, and if I could cross a few of the VITs off my list during this perceived downtime, so much the better.

Huffington Post

I think standardized tests aren't just a monumental waste of money and time, but are destroying the institution and the profession in myriad unsuspected ways.

The Washington Post

NMcE, Connecticut How can a paper that published the definitive debunking of recycling -- the NYT Magazine piece "Recycling Is Garbage" -- continue to write stories that support something that's not only a monumental waste of very precious time and money, but also a distraction away from the environmental problem that actually exists and actually matters: climate change?

The New York Times

Sereny, speaking from Vienna, believes that for Irving to continue to pursue the case would 'of course be a monumental waste of everyone's, particularly the court's, time and money', but she is aware that this has not stopped him in the past, and that his animosity towards her runs deep.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "monumental waste of time" to convey strong disapproval or frustration regarding a specific activity or situation. It's best suited for contexts where the time investment is disproportionate to the outcome.

Common error

While "monumental waste of time" is grammatically sound, avoid using it excessively in casual conversations. Simpler alternatives like "waste of time" may be more appropriate for informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "monumental waste of time" functions as a noun phrase that serves as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It describes something as being an extreme and unproductive use of time, conveying a strong negative assessment. Ludwig confirms the validity and usability of this expression.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "monumental waste of time" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe something considered an extreme and unproductive use of time. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively conveys disapproval and frustration. While versatile, it's best suited for situations where the time investment is disproportionate to the outcome and should be used judiciously in casual settings. Alternatives like "colossal waste of time" or simpler phrases such as "waste of time" may be more appropriate depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

colossal waste of time

Replaces "monumental" with "colossal", maintaining the sense of a large-scale waste.

huge waste of time

Substitutes "monumental" with "huge", indicating a significant but less grandiose waste.

massive waste of time

Replaces "monumental" with "massive", emphasizing the scale of the waste.

complete waste of time

Uses "complete" to underscore the totality of the wasted time.

total waste of time

Uses "total" to highlight the utter lack of value or productivity.

utter waste of time

Replaces with "utter", to express the futility of an action.

sheer waste of time

Uses "sheer" to emphasize the unadulterated nature of the wasted time.

egregious waste of time

Substitutes "monumental" with "egregious", suggesting the waste is conspicuously bad.

pure waste of time

Uses "pure" to emphasize the absence of any benefit or value.

pointless exercise

Shifts the expression to describe the activity itself as lacking purpose.

FAQs

How can I use "monumental waste of time" in a sentence?

You can use "monumental waste of time" to describe something that takes a lot of time but yields no valuable results. For example: "Sitting through that three-hour meeting was a "monumental waste of time".

What's a more casual way to say "monumental waste of time"?

In more casual settings, you could use phrases like "waste of time", "pointless", or "futile".

Is "monumental waste of time" an overused phrase?

While not inherently overused, "monumental waste of time" is a strong expression that might not be suitable for all contexts. Consider the audience and the desired impact when choosing whether to use this phrase or a milder alternative.

What are some synonyms for "monumental waste of time"?

Synonyms include "colossal waste of time", "huge waste of time", and "massive waste of time", each emphasizing the significant degree of wasted time.