outlandish claim

USAGE SUMMARY

'outlandish claim' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing something that is unreasonable or implausible. For example, "He made an outlandish claim that he could make money from thin air."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

This was not an outlandish claim.

The Economist

Usually, the burden of proof for an outlandish claim rests on the person making the assertion.

The New York Times

We will see if Trump repeats this new outlandish claim in the coming days.

The New Yorker

The company said that was an outlandish claim, and argued that there was no pattern or intent of discrimination.

The New York Times

His spokesperson categorically denies this and, on the prima facie evidence, it does seem an outlandish claim.

Independent

Plain and simple!" writes Edward Lee, without offering a shred of evidence to back his outlandish claim.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

Outlandish claims pepper the book.

The Guardian - Books

Look, see, we're not making any outlandish  claims here.

Independent

There is no evidence to support these outlandish claims.

The Washington Post

Mr Miliband is a mid-sized politician making outlandish claims.

The Economist

Silencing extends to politics when outlandish claims are made about public figures.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "outlandish claim" when you want to express strong disbelief or skepticism about a statement. It's more impactful than simply saying a claim is "false" or "incorrect".

Common error

Avoid using "outlandish claim" repeatedly in a single piece of writing. Vary your language by using synonyms like "preposterous assertion" or "baseless accusation" to maintain reader engagement and avoid sounding repetitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "outlandish claim" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "outlandish" modifies the noun "claim". It typically serves to characterize a statement as being highly improbable or absurd. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Academia

16%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "outlandish claim" is a commonly used phrase to describe a statement considered highly improbable or absurd. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable in written English. It frequently appears in News & Media and Academic contexts and serves to express disbelief or skepticism. While the phrase is generally neutral in tone, it's important to use it judiciously, considering alternative expressions such as "preposterous assertion" or "absurd statement" to maintain stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preposterous assertion

Replaces "claim" with "assertion", implying a confident but ridiculous statement; "preposterous" strengthens the sense of unbelievability.

absurd statement

"Absurd" is used instead of "outlandish", conveying a sense of illogicality and unreasonableness in the statement.

ridiculous allegation

Using "ridiculous" instead of "outlandish" and "allegation" instead of "claim" suggests that the statement is worthy of mockery and lacks proof.

ludicrous assertion

"Ludicrous" replaces "outlandish", intensifying the sense of absurdity and foolishness.

unsubstantiated allegation

Focuses on the lack of evidence, replacing "outlandish" with the explicit statement that the claim is not backed by facts.

incredible statement

Highlights the difficulty in believing the statement, with "incredible" replacing "outlandish".

dubious proposition

Indicates that the claim is questionable and unlikely to be true, with "dubious" suggesting skepticism.

implausible assertion

"Implausible" suggests the claim is not believable or likely to happen, replacing the more general term "outlandish".

far-fetched claim

Conveys that the claim is unlikely and difficult to believe, replacing "outlandish" with a more descriptive term.

baseless accusation

Indicates that the claim is without any foundation or evidence, emphasizing its lack of support.

FAQs

How can I use "outlandish claim" in a sentence?

You can use "outlandish claim" to describe statements that are difficult to believe or seem absurd. For example, "The politician made an "outlandish claim" about reducing taxes without cutting services".

What's the difference between "outlandish claim" and "exaggerated statement"?

"Outlandish claim" implies something is not only exaggerated but also highly improbable or bizarre, while "exaggerated statement" simply means something is overstated but potentially still based in reality. An "exaggerated statement" might be "I waited in line for hours", while an "outlandish claim" could be "I can fly to the moon without a rocket".

What can I say instead of "outlandish claim"?

You can use alternatives like "preposterous assertion", "absurd statement", or "ridiculous allegation" depending on the specific context and the level of disbelief you want to convey.

Is "outlandish claim" formal or informal?

"Outlandish claim" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It's commonly used in news reporting, academic writing, and everyday conversations to express disbelief or skepticism about a statement. However, in very formal or academic settings, you might opt for a more nuanced alternative.