overwhelming consensus

USAGE SUMMARY

"overwhelming consensus" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to mention a general agreement from a large group of people, such as a large survey or poll. Example sentence: "The overwhelming consensus was that the law should be amended to protect the rights of workers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Finding an overwhelming consensus was nothing new.

The Guardian

Could such an overwhelming consensus of economists be wrong?

The New York Times

"The overwhelming consensus was Gore's going to win this in a narrow election".

The New York Times

These reforms reflected an overwhelming consensus that the Fed had been derelict in fulfilling its duties.

The Guardian - Business

There is overwhelming consensus that the public sector must improve significantly and quickly.

The Guardian

Scientists have claimed an "overwhelming consensus" among environmental experts on the need for the laws.

The Guardian

Yet the overwhelming consensus has been that control orders are the "stuff of dictatorships".

The Guardian - Opinion

If such overwhelming consensus is indeed the case, where is the public record of this decision?

The New York Times

Such overwhelming consensus from the nation's press – but was anybody listening?

The Guardian

An overwhelming consensus confirmed what I had already heard: the Tasaday were a scam.

The Guardian - Books

What is important is that the overwhelming consensus on global warming remains unchanged.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "overwhelming consensus" to emphasize a very strong level of agreement, particularly when citing expert opinions or survey results. For example: "There is an "overwhelming consensus" among climate scientists regarding human-caused global warming."

Common error

Avoid using "overwhelming consensus" when there is significant dissent or disagreement. If notable opposition exists, a more nuanced term like "majority view" or "general agreement" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overwhelming consensus" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It signifies a strong and widely held agreement on a particular issue, as demonstrated by the examples in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "overwhelming consensus" is a noun phrase used to describe a strong and widespread agreement on a particular issue. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical status is correct and it is highly usable in written English. It's commonly found in news and media, scientific publications, and formal business contexts to emphasize the strength and breadth of agreement within a group. While it implies a very strong level of agreement, it does not necessarily mean complete unanimity. When using this phrase, it is important to be aware of the potential for misinterpretation, and ensure that the level of disagreement is not so significant as to undermine the claim of an "overwhelming consensus".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

near unanimity

This phrase suggests almost complete agreement, differing in the degree of agreement implied.

unanimous agreement

Suggests complete agreement with no dissent, a stronger statement than "overwhelming consensus".

general agreement

This alternative conveys a broad sense of agreement, lacking the emphasis on the strength of the consensus.

settled opinion

Highlights that a certain point of view is not likely to change because its level of agreement is high.

broad acceptance

Focuses on the widespread acceptance of an idea or proposal, instead of agreement among a group.

widely held belief

Emphasizes a belief that is common among many people, but not necessarily based on formal agreement.

majority view

Indicates that more than half agree, without necessarily implying a very large majority.

prevailing opinion

Highlights the most popular or dominant viewpoint, which might not be universally agreed upon.

common understanding

Implies a shared comprehension or interpretation, not necessarily an active agreement.

accepted wisdom

Refers to established beliefs that are generally considered true, often without critical examination.

FAQs

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

You can use "overwhelming consensus" to describe situations where a very large majority agrees on something. For example: "The "overwhelming consensus" among economists is that a recession is looming."

What's a good alternative to "overwhelming consensus"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "near unanimity", "general agreement", or "broad acceptance".

Is it accurate to use "overwhelming consensus" if there's any disagreement?

While "overwhelming consensus" implies a very strong agreement, it doesn't necessarily mean complete unanimity. However, if the disagreement is substantial, using terms like "majority view" might be more accurate.

What distinguishes "overwhelming consensus" from "consensus"?

The term "overwhelming" emphasizes the strength and scale of the agreement, suggesting a much larger and more decisive majority than just a simple "consensus". It conveys a stronger sense of agreement.