not well received

USAGE SUMMARY

"not well received" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that was not accepted, liked, or appreciated by others. Example: The new policy was not well received by the employees, leading to frustration and complaints from the staff. In this sentence, "not well received" indicates that the employees did not respond positively to the new policy. Other examples could include: - The movie was not well received by critics, who gave it negative reviews. - Her apology was not well received by her friends, who were still upset about the situation. - The CEO's decision to close the company's office in another country was not well received by the international team.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The message was not well received.

The New York Times

It was not well received by some".

The New York Times

The remark was not well received.

The New Yorker

His skepticism was not well received.

The New Yorker

Which was not well received.

The Washington Post

This was not well received.

The Guardian - Music

The first plan was not well received.

The New York Times

but was not well received by everyone.

The New York Times

Morsi's words are not well received.

The Guardian

The report was not well received.

The Guardian

The suggestion was not well received.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not well received" when you want to convey that something was met with disapproval or failed to gain acceptance. It's suitable for describing reactions to ideas, proposals, performances, or policies.

Common error

Avoid overusing the passive voice with "not well received" to the point where the actor is obscured. Ensure it's clear who did the receiving to provide context and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not well received" functions as a predicative adjective phrase. It describes the state or condition of something (an idea, proposal, action, etc.) as having been met with a negative or unfavorable reaction. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Science

4%

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "not well received" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that something was met with disapproval or a negative reaction. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is correct and widely used. It appears frequently in news, academic, and general contexts, signaling its versatility and broad applicability. Alternatives like "poorly received" or "met with disapproval" can be used for variety, but "not well received" remains a clear and effective choice. When using the phrase, ensure clarity by specifying who did the receiving and avoiding overuse of the passive voice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

poorly received

Simpler and more direct way of expressing a negative reception.

unfavorably received

More formal and emphasizes the negative nature of the reception.

met with disapproval

Emphasizes active disapproval rather than passive non-acceptance.

did not go down well

Idiomatic expression indicating something was not pleasing or acceptable.

failed to gain acceptance

Focuses on the lack of positive endorsement or approval.

was met with resistance

Highlights active opposition and pushback.

was rejected outright

Stronger, indicating complete refusal or dismissal.

drew criticism

Highlights that the reaction involved negative feedback and critique.

was frowned upon

Implies a negative reaction based on disapproval or social norms.

caused an uproar

Indicates a strong, negative, and often public reaction.

FAQs

How can I use "not well received" in a sentence?

You can use "not well received" to describe something that was met with disapproval or a negative reaction. For example, "The new policy was "not well received" by the employees".

What can I say instead of "not well received"?

You can use alternatives like "poorly received", "met with disapproval", or "unfavorably received" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "not well received" or "not good received"?

"Not well received" is the correct and idiomatic phrasing. "Not good received" is grammatically incorrect. Use alternatives such as "poorly received" if you're aiming for simplicity.

What's the difference between "not well received" and "ignored"?

"Not well received" implies a negative reaction or disapproval. "Ignored" simply means something was not acknowledged or paid attention to. Something that's ""not well received"" elicits a response, while something that is ignored does not.