overwhelming approval

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "overwhelming approval" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something receives a very strong and positive response from a group of people. Example: "The new policy received overwhelming approval from the board members, indicating their strong support for the changes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For his Yankee teammates, Pettitte's return was met with overwhelming approval.

The New York Times

Voters also gave overwhelming approval to a ban on same-sex marriage.

The New York Times

The bill to federalize the cross passed the House with overwhelming approval.

The New York Times

"The government of the United States welcomes Parliament's overwhelming approval of Kenya's harmonized draft constitution," he said in April.

The New York Times

The next night she performed a concert in San Diego in full make-up, to the overwhelming approval of fans.

Independent

They don't necessarily give him overwhelming approval on his style of doing things, but everybody has a different style.

The New York Times

In the states where medical marijuana has been on the ballot, it has received overwhelming approval from voters.

The New York Times

I think that the people of New York City give him overwhelming approval on his job performance.

The New York Times

"I think that the people of New York City give him overwhelming approval on his job performance," he added.

The New York Times

The House legislation, however, is missing two vital provisions that are in the Senate bill that won overwhelming approval last week.

The New York Times

Sorry, guys: polls show overwhelming approval for Mr. Obama's handling of the storm, and a significant rise in his overall favorability ratings.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "overwhelming approval" to describe situations where the level of agreement or support is notably high and significant. It's suitable when you want to emphasize the strength of the positive response.

Common error

Avoid using "overwhelming approval" for situations where the support is merely positive or moderate. The term is most effective when the approval is exceptionally strong and widely shared; otherwise, a weaker term like "general support" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overwhelming approval" primarily functions as a noun phrase, typically used as an object or subject complement. It describes the nature or extent of the "approval", emphasizing its magnitude. Ludwig examples consistently show it modifying a noun representing a decision, action, or policy.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

87%

Academia

6%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

Overwhelming approval is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express strong, widespread endorsement. Ludwig AI indicates that it is utilized across diverse contexts, primarily in news and media, to describe situations where a decision, policy, or action receives significant positive feedback. While alternatives like "resounding endorsement" or "unanimous support" exist, this phrase effectively conveys the magnitude of agreement. When using "overwhelming approval", ensure it accurately reflects the exceptional strength of the positive response, avoiding its misuse for minor or moderate agreements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overwhelming support

Simply replaces "approval" with "support", maintaining the core meaning.

resounding endorsement

Replaces "approval" with a stronger noun, implying a very enthusiastic agreement.

unanimous support

Focuses on the lack of dissent, indicating complete agreement from everyone involved.

widespread acceptance

Emphasizes that the acceptance is across a large area or group.

massive acceptance

Emphasizes the wide-scale adoption or agreement with something.

emphatic agreement

Highlights the strength and clarity of the agreement.

complete agreement

Highlights the total alignment of opinions or positions.

universal acclaim

Suggests that something is praised by everyone, especially in artistic or creative contexts.

positive reception

Indicates a favorable response or welcome.

general consensus

Focuses on the collective agreement reached by a group.

FAQs

What does "overwhelming approval" mean?

The phrase "overwhelming approval" signifies a situation where something receives a very strong and positive response from a large majority, indicating almost unanimous agreement or support.

How can I use "overwhelming approval" in a sentence?

You might say, "The new policy received overwhelming approval from the board members," or "The public showed overwhelming approval for the environmental initiative".

What can I say instead of "overwhelming approval"?

You can use alternatives like "resounding endorsement", "unanimous support", or "massive acceptance" depending on the context.

Is it okay to use "overwhelming support" instead of "overwhelming approval"?

Yes, "overwhelming support" is a very similar phrase and often interchangeable with "overwhelming approval", though "approval" more directly indicates a formal endorsement.