painfully bad

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "painfully bad" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is so bad that it causes discomfort or distress to experience. Example: "The movie was painfully bad, with poor acting and a nonsensical plot that left the audience cringing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

This kind of fiction is painfully bad, being doubly false.

The New York Times - Books

The series is not painfully bad, just by-the-numbers and predictable.

The New York Times - Arts

AS IF UPN tonight at 9 00 "As If" is painfully bad.

The New York Times - Arts

Ms. DeGeneres and Katie Couric sang a painfully bad karaoke duet of "Oklahoma".

The New York Times

It was another painfully bad performance by the Yankees' offense and it ruined what was a really great pitching performance by Hiroki Kuroda.

The New York Times

In addition to that painfully bad timing, the building was still under construction, and potential buyers had to content themselves with renderings and models.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

Stood out in agame which had gone from really bad to painfully awful.

Independent

Conversely, it is painfully obvious when a bad film is shoehorning in old tunes in a vain hope for borrowed cachet.

The Guardian - Film

Eddie (Kentucker Audley), the painfully awkward hero of "Bad Fever," longs for a career in comedy, though it's clear from the outset that his real gift is for tragedy.

The New York Times

To fake this convincingly, you'll want to pretend that part of your back (e.g., upper back, lower back, shoulder region, etc). is painfully sore like a bad bruise.

WikiHow

He also described it in 1863 as "that hideous pile ... a painfully impressive example of architectural bad taste".

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "painfully bad" to describe situations, performances, or creations that are not only poor in quality but also cause discomfort or embarrassment to those experiencing them. For example, "The comedian's jokes were so "painfully bad" that many audience members walked out."

Common error

While "painfully bad" is acceptable in many contexts, avoid using it in formal or professional writing where a more objective or neutral tone is required. Opt for phrases like "significantly below standard" or "demonstrates considerable deficiencies" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "painfully bad" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to express a severe lack of quality. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. Examples show it describing movies, performances, and even writing.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

92%

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "painfully bad" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that something is not just poor in quality, but also causes discomfort or distress. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, its primary function is to convey strong disapproval, often in contexts like describing a movie, a performance, or even writing. While frequently found in news and media, its informal leaning suggests avoiding it in more formal academic or business settings. Alternatives like "excruciatingly awful" or "terribly substandard" offer similar meanings with slightly different nuances. Overall, "painfully bad" is a useful phrase for vividly expressing negative assessments, provided the context is appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excruciatingly awful

Emphasizes the extreme degree of badness, suggesting it causes significant discomfort or distress.

terribly substandard

Highlights that something fails to meet the required or expected level of quality.

woefully inadequate

Focuses on the insufficiency or deficiency of something to meet a particular need or standard.

appallingly poor

Stresses the shocking or dismaying level of badness.

remarkably deficient

Highlights a notable lack of something essential or expected.

atrociously inferior

Emphasizes the extremely poor quality compared to a standard or expectation.

egregiously flawed

Indicates that something contains faults or imperfections to an outstanding degree.

deplorably inadequate

Expresses strong disapproval of the insufficiency or unacceptability of something.

dreadfully disappointing

Focuses on the severe level of disappointment caused by something's poor quality.

abominably wretched

Emphasizes the extreme unpleasantness or poor quality of something.

FAQs

How can I use "painfully bad" in a sentence?

You can use "painfully bad" to describe something of very poor quality that causes discomfort. For example, "The acting in that movie was "painfully bad"."

What are some alternatives to "painfully bad"?

Alternatives include "excruciatingly awful", "terribly substandard", or "woefully inadequate", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "painfully bad" too informal for academic writing?

Yes, in most cases. Academic writing typically requires more formal language. Consider alternatives like "significantly deficient" or "critically flawed".

Can "painfully bad" be used to describe a person?

While grammatically correct, it's more common to use "painfully bad" to describe performances, events, or creations rather than people directly. Describing a person as such might be considered harsh or overly critical.