outright success

USAGE SUMMARY

"outright success" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an absolute or complete success, as in the following sentence: The musical's opening night was an outright success, with nearly every seat in the theater filled.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Outright success would be the bonus.

The New York Times - Sports

Not everyone in Senegal considered the festival an outright success.

The Guardian

But describing it as an outright success would be a stretch.

The Guardian

He died aged 70 with only one outright success to his name.

The Guardian

Kevin Restivo, an analyst at IDC, said it was too early to tell whether the Lumia line would be an abject failure or an outright success, because the handsets have yet to become available on more carriers in more countries.

The New York Times

Of course, when one invests in a startup, one aims for outright success.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Scorsese, for instance, has had only two outright successes at the box office: Taxi Driver and Goodfellas.

The Guardian - Film

Perhaps the reason Mourinho has stuttered is simply that he is human after all, subject to the normal rules of gravity that suggest even the most compelling managers tend to get no more than a decade of outright, untouchable success.

The Guardian - Sport

The Red Rose had waited 77 years to claim the biggest prize in the domestic game in their own right - they shared the trophy with Surrey in 1950 - but the young, homegrown players around which their first outright Championship success since 1934 was based struggled to match their previous exploits in the defence of their title.

BBC

"He's had no outright commercial successes and there have been some failures".With "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", however, Mr Anschutz is likely to demonstrate that he is more than just a wealthy eccentric.

The Economist

Chapple, 38, was first appointed skipper in 2009 and led the Red Rose to their first outright Championship title success for 77 years in 2011.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "outright success", ensure that the context clearly supports the claim of complete and unambiguous achievement. Avoid using it for situations where the success is partial or has significant drawbacks.

Common error

Avoid using "outright success" when the outcome has mixed results or unforeseen negative consequences. A more nuanced term like "qualified success" or "partial victory" may be more appropriate in such scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "outright success" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the object or subject complement in a sentence. As shown by Ludwig, it describes a situation where something has achieved a complete and unambiguous positive outcome.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "outright success" is a noun phrase used to describe a complete and unambiguous positive outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides examples across various contexts. While not exceedingly common, the phrase appears most frequently in news, science and formal business settings. Alternatives include "genuine success" and "unmitigated success", offering subtle differences in emphasis. When employing this phrase, ensure that the context warrants the claim of complete achievement, avoiding its use when results are mixed or qualified.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unmitigated success

Highlights that the success is complete and without any negative aspects or drawbacks.

unequivocal success

Indicates that the success is clear, unambiguous, and leaves no room for doubt.

absolute success

Stresses the total and undeniable nature of the success.

undisputed achievement

Emphasizes the certainty and lack of argument surrounding the success.

genuine success

Emphasizes the authenticity and sincerity of the success.

total accomplishment

Replaces success with accomplishment, putting focus on the act of achieving something.

resounding success

Suggests the success is widely recognized and celebrated.

unqualified win

Highlights that the success lacks any limitations or caveats.

complete triumph

Replaces "success" with "triumph", adding a sense of overcoming significant challenges.

decisive victory

Implies a clear and definitive win, often in a competitive context.

FAQs

How can I use "outright success" in a sentence?

You can use "outright success" to describe a situation where something achieves a complete and unambiguous positive outcome. For example: "The project was an "outright success", exceeding all expectations."

What are some alternatives to "outright success"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "genuine success", "unmitigated success", or "absolute success".

Is it correct to say "outright successful"?

While grammatically understandable, "outright successful" is less common and less idiomatic than ""outright success"". It is usually better to use "outright success" as a noun phrase.

What distinguishes "outright success" from simply "success"?

"Outright success" emphasizes the completeness and lack of ambiguity in the achievement. It suggests that there are no caveats or negative aspects associated with the outcome, unlike a simple "success" which might imply a more qualified or limited positive result.