outrageous to think

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "outrageous to think" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express disbelief or strong disapproval regarding a particular idea or notion. Example: "It's truly outrageous to think that anyone would consider such a proposal acceptable."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

So according to Mr. Romney, it's outrageous to think our system should provide those in need with food or shelter or decent health care?

The New York Times

It's quite outrageous to think that recusal from the Russia investigation means he had to recuse himself from firing someone for the Russia investigation.

The Guardian - Opinion

Representative Michael Turner, a Republican from Ohio, opened one of the hearings by saying, "It is outrageous to think that the greatest threat to the American public from weapons of mass destruction may be the incompetence of D.O.E.

The New Yorker

However, the Green Party MP Caroline Lucas said: "It's outrageous to think of companies burying nuclear waste and fracking for gas in some of the most beautiful places in the country.

The Guardian

"It's not outrageous to think we could decentralize every aspect of health care and technology".

Forbes

It's not outrageous to think that the two companies could be in a dead heat by 2015, for example.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

And, of course, it's outrageous if true to think that the Civic Committee head actually encouraged credit managers to ding taxpayers.

Huffington Post

This is so outrageous it is impossible to think with and then leaves you with only some sense of the gravity of the amount of incompetence that is writing the rules for how our country's financial systems work or don't work.

Huffington Post

"It made me realize that it was easy to think that outrageous levels of debt were totally reasonable".

The New Yorker

Am I unreasonable to think this is outrageous?

Independent

When it comes to outrageous gifts think "experience" and "fantasy:" Choose a full Comic Con-ready costume as a gift.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "outrageous to think" to express strong disagreement or moral indignation towards an idea. Ensure the context makes clear what specific aspect of the idea is considered outrageous.

Common error

Avoid using "outrageous to think" in contexts that require a neutral or objective tone. The phrase carries a strong emotional charge and is best reserved for situations where expressing disapproval is appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "outrageous to think" functions as an evaluative expression, conveying a strong negative judgment about an idea or proposition. It is typically used to express disbelief, moral outrage, or strong disapproval. As Ludwig confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently employed.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Academia

15%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Science

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "outrageous to think" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to convey strong disagreement or moral indignation. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is correct in English. While versatile, it's best suited for contexts where expressing disapproval is appropriate and should be avoided in purely objective settings. Consider alternatives like "shocking to consider" or ""hard to believe"" for less intense scenarios. Remember to use it to express disagreement or challenge viewpoints effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shocking to consider

Replaces "think" with "consider", altering the verb while maintaining a similar level of surprise and disapproval.

appalling to imagine

Substitutes "outrageous" with "appalling" to convey stronger negative feelings and changes "think" to "imagine" for focus on visualization.

unconscionable to believe

Replaces "outrageous" with "unconscionable", emphasizing moral reprehensibility, and changes "think" to "believe" for a focus on conviction.

monstrous to contemplate

Employs "monstrous" to intensify the negative aspect, and "contemplate" to shift the emphasis to a more thoughtful consideration of the idea.

scandalous to accept

Uses "scandalous" to highlight the socially unacceptable nature and replaces "think" with "accept" to shift the emphasis to acceptance.

disgraceful to entertain

Changes "outrageous" to "disgraceful" to indicate shamefulness and changes "think" to "entertain" to focus on considering the idea even briefly.

absurd to suggest

Replaces "outrageous" with "absurd" to indicate irrationality, and changes "think" to "suggest" to emphasize the proposal of the idea.

preposterous to propose

Substitutes "outrageous" with "preposterous", highlighting absurdity and replaces "think" to "propose" to emphasize the action of putting forward an idea.

ludicrous to consider

Replaces "outrageous" with "ludicrous" to emphasize the foolish or unreasonable nature of the idea, and keeps "consider" to maintain similar thoughtfulness.

unthinkable to accept

Replaces "outrageous" with "unthinkable", highlighting how impossible it is to imagine, and changes "think" to "accept" to shift the emphasis to acceptance.

FAQs

How can I use "outrageous to think" in a sentence?

You can use "outrageous to think" to express strong disagreement or disbelief, for example: "It's "outrageous to think" that anyone would support such a policy".

What's a less intense alternative to "outrageous to think"?

If you want to express disbelief without being too strong, you could use alternatives like "surprising to think" or "hard to believe", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it ever inappropriate to use "outrageous to think"?

Yes, using "outrageous to think" might be inappropriate in formal or objective contexts where a neutral tone is expected. In such cases, opt for less emotionally charged alternatives.

What's the difference between "outrageous to think" and "shocking to think"?

"Outrageous to think" implies a stronger sense of moral indignation or offense, while "shocking to think" primarily conveys surprise and disbelief. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the moral wrongness or the unexpected nature of the idea.