outright wrong

USAGE SUMMARY

"outright wrong" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used to emphasize that something is completely wrong. For example: "It was an outright wrong decision to take away their rights."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

You know you're outright wrong when you're referencing Christopher Hitchens.

University of California, Berkeley

"It's an economic injustice, it's discriminatory and it's just outright wrong".

The Guardian

"I feel he's outright wrong," Naiema Inniss, 17, a Lenox Terrace neighbor and high school student, said in an interview.

The New York Times

Third, the blind adoption of capitalist incentives into the practice of science by the Chinese establishment is outright wrong.

The Guardian

But while the Obama campaign has called it a "false, gratuitous attack," there is nothing that is outright wrong.

The New York Times

"Many of these claims are dubious at best and outright wrong at worst," said Jonathan Schorsch, a researcher with the Council on Economic Priorities, a consumer-oriented group.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

WHAT facts about the case did many news outlets fail to mention or outright get wrong?

The New York Times

This does not prove Atkins' assertion is wrong outright, but outlines the fact that individuals react differently.

The Guardian

When I wrote Gardens of Awe and Folly this is the kind of value-added storytelling that I did my best to emulate, because outright plagiarism is wrong.

The Guardian - Books

Many examples abound of instances where prevailing law was outright immoral and/or wrong and the law of the land was eventually changed for the betterment of society.

Science Magazine

When you don't get the intuitive feeling you described, but you don't get an outright 'this is wrong' gut feeling either?" My answer, "Sit and wait for awhile".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "outright wrong" to express a strong disagreement or to correct a clear misstatement of fact. For impact, follow it with a specific explanation of why something is incorrect.

Common error

While "outright wrong" is acceptable in many situations, avoid using it in highly formal or academic writing where more precise and nuanced language might be expected. Consider alternatives like "categorically incorrect" or "demonstrably untrue" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "outright wrong" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate that something is entirely and unequivocally incorrect. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

16%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "outright wrong" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that something is completely incorrect. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's frequently used in news and media, academic, and scientific contexts to strongly refute claims or highlight factual errors. When writing, use "outright wrong" to express strong disagreement, but be mindful of the context and consider more formal alternatives like "categorically incorrect" in professional settings. The phrase carries a neutral tone, making it suitable for a wide range of writing scenarios. Remember to support your assertion with evidence to strengthen your argument.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

categorically incorrect

Emphasizes the lack of any possible correctness.

patently false

Highlights the obviousness of the falsehood.

demonstrably untrue

Focuses on the provable nature of its falsity.

wholly inaccurate

Stresses the total absence of accuracy.

completely mistaken

Emphasizes the error in judgment or understanding.

absolutely incorrect

Highlights the certainty of the incorrectness.

unquestionably false

Stresses that there is no room for doubt about its falsehood.

dead wrong

An informal way of saying completely wrong.

utterly fallacious

Emphasizes the deceptive or misleading quality.

flat-out wrong

Uses informal expression to underline the statement is fully wrong.

FAQs

How to use "outright wrong" in a sentence?

You can use "outright wrong" to strongly express that something is completely incorrect. For example: "His claim that the Earth is flat is "outright wrong"."

What can I say instead of "outright wrong"?

You can use alternatives like "categorically incorrect", "patently false", or "demonstrably untrue" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "outright wrong" or "completely wrong"?

Both "outright wrong" and "completely wrong" are correct and convey a similar meaning. "Outright wrong" might suggest a more emphatic or blatant error, while "completely wrong" is a more general statement.

What's the difference between "outright wrong" and "misleading"?

"Outright wrong" means something is factually incorrect. "Misleading" means something is technically true but presented in a way that could cause someone to form an inaccurate conclusion.