much to the outrage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "much to the outrage" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that something has caused significant anger or displeasure among a group of people. Example: "The decision to cut funding for the arts was made, much to the outrage of the community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Mr Najib has indeed started tinkering with Malay privileges, much to the outrage of the UMNO right and a vocal Malay-rights ginger group known as Perkasa.

The Economist

Former Gov. Mario Cuomo took the same route in his last campaign, much to the outrage of his little-known Republican opponent, George Pataki.

The New York Times

The film, featuring the voices of Chris Pratt and Will Ferrell and directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, was No 10 in the Guardian's films of the year list, but the Oscar went to How to Train Your Dragon 2, directed by Dean DeBlois and produced by Bonnie Arnold – much to the outrage of Twitter.

The Guardian - Film

Dec. 11 HERBERT From a work by the Bengali novelist Nabarun Bhattacharya, a postmodernist comedy about a Calcutta man (Subhasish Mukherjee) who founds a successful business on his claim to be able to speak with the dead, much to the outrage of the International Rationalist Society.

The New York Times

A high-looking hit from the Devils on Murphy went unpunished and ended the forward's match, much to the outrage of the Giants fans and players.

BBC

Later that year Dylan adopted electric instruments, much to the outrage of many folk purists, with his "Like a Rolling Stone" becoming a US hit single.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

In the process he becomes a devoted Christian himself, much to the apoplectic outrage of his employer, the emperor Caligula (Jay Robinson).

The New York Times

Despite the president's "thoughts and prayers," talking points on empathy, and break with the NRA, he hasn't done much to quell the outrage people around the country are feeling after 17 students and staff died at an American high school.

Vice

While civilian chaplains have had their contracts suspended during the shutdown (much to the right's outrage), it seems that Black and his House counterpart, Father Pat Conroy, are either essential or have found in their hearts a compassion less present in the 1850s.

The Guardian - Opinion

Taylor Swift is reportedly dating Harry Styles of the British boy band One Direction, much to the disappointment and outrage of many of his fans.

Huffington Post

Outrage ensued, much to the embarrassment of both the Young Guard and the party.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "much to the outrage" to clearly and concisely indicate that a particular action or decision has caused widespread anger or disapproval. Ensure that the context makes it clear who is experiencing the "outrage".

Common error

Avoid using "much to the outrage" when the disapproval is limited to a small group or individual. Ensure the situation genuinely reflects a broad, public sense of outrage rather than isolated discontent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "much to the outrage" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or clause, indicating the consequence or reaction to a particular action or event. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Wiki

5%

Academia

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "much to the outrage" is a prepositional phrase used to effectively convey widespread anger or disapproval resulting from a particular event or decision. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use across different writing styles. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts, serving to highlight strong negative reactions. While there are several alternative phrases like "causing widespread indignation" or "sparking public dismay", each carries its own subtle nuances in meaning. When using "much to the outrage", ensure that the context reflects a broad sense of public disapproval rather than isolated discontent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

causing public uproar

Replaces "outrage" with "uproar" suggesting a noisy and energetic display of disapproval.

causing widespread indignation

Changes the prepositional phrase to a participial phrase to directly describe the act causing the outrage.

provoking widespread disapproval

Highlights the act of causing a generally negative reaction.

generating considerable anger

Uses "anger" instead of "outrage" for a more straightforward expression of disapproval.

sparking public dismay

Replaces "outrage" with "dismay" to soften the intensity of the reaction.

a source of great resentment

Indicates that the action led to a feeling of bitterness and injustice.

to the consternation of many

Emphasizes surprise and bewilderment caused to a large group.

in defiance of public sentiment

Focuses on the act of opposing the general public's feelings.

in opposition to popular will

Highlights a conflict between an action and the desires of the population.

much to everyone's annoyance

Substitutes "outrage" with "annoyance" indicating a milder form of displeasure.

FAQs

How can I use "much to the outrage" in a sentence?

You can use "much to the outrage" to express that an action or decision caused widespread anger. For example: "The company decided to outsource jobs, "much to the outrage" of its employees."

What are some alternatives to "much to the outrage"?

Alternatives include phrases like "causing widespread indignation", "sparking public dismay", or "generating considerable anger". These alternatives can help you vary your writing while maintaining a similar meaning.

Is "much to the outrage" formal or informal?

"Much to the outrage" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it's more common in news and media reporting.

How does "much to the outrage" differ from "to the dismay"?

"Much to the outrage" implies a stronger reaction of anger and indignation, while "to the dismay" suggests disappointment or concern. The choice depends on the intensity of the reaction you want to convey.