plainly ludicrous

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "plainly ludicrous" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is obviously ridiculous or absurd. Example: "The idea that we could finish the project in one day is plainly ludicrous."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The idea that a global spiritual leader should be gagged by geography is plainly ludicrous.

The Guardian - Opinion

"It's plainly ludicrous to suggest that we would manage his selection to avoid a £2.5m extension cost when what was at stake was the survival of the club," Jones QC told the tribunal.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

That was obviously ludicrous.

The Economist

"It's simply ludicrous".

The New York Times

"That's simply ludicrous.

The New York Times

This, plainly, is absurd.

The Guardian - Film

Any bank that backs this ludicrous plan is announcing, quite plainly, that it cares nothing about climate change.

The Guardian

Phil Howard's ludicrous brioche mince swirls didn't taste good enough to mitigate the fact that they were plainly not mince pies, while Eric Lanlard's, while admittedly delicious, were closer to quiches than mince pies.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

comparison ludicrous.

The New Yorker

Ludicrous thought?

The New York Times

Clearly ludicrous.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "plainly ludicrous" when you want to emphasize that something is not only ridiculous but also obviously so, leaving no room for doubt. It is particularly effective in argumentative writing or when dismissing an idea.

Common error

While "plainly ludicrous" is acceptable, it can sound somewhat informal in very formal or academic writing. Consider using more sophisticated synonyms like "manifestly absurd" or "patently ridiculous" for a more elevated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "plainly ludicrous" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, modifying a noun or idea to express that it is not only ridiculous but also undeniably and obviously so. Ludwig AI validates this usage as correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "plainly ludicrous" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe something that is both ridiculous and obviously so. Ludwig AI confirms that the usage is correct and appropriate. While not extremely common, it appears primarily in news and media contexts and can be useful for dismissing ideas or arguments with a sense of clear disbelief. Related phrases include "obviously absurd" and "patently ridiculous". When writing, consider the context and choose a more formal alternative for highly academic or professional settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

obviously absurd

Replaces "ludicrous" with "absurd" and "plainly" with "obviously", keeping the meaning of something clearly unreasonable.

patently ridiculous

Uses "patently" instead of "plainly" and "ridiculous" instead of "ludicrous" to highlight the obvious nature of the absurdity.

clearly preposterous

Substitutes "plainly" with "clearly" and "ludicrous" with "preposterous", indicating something utterly absurd.

blatantly absurd

Emphasizes the obviousness of the absurdity with "blatantly" instead of "plainly".

manifestly absurd

Replaces "plainly" with "manifestly", suggesting the absurdity is clearly apparent.

unquestionably absurd

Highlights the undisputed nature of the absurdity, replacing "plainly" with "unquestionably".

undeniably ridiculous

Stresses the irrefutable nature of the ridiculousness, using "undeniably" instead of "plainly" and "ridiculous" instead of "ludicrous".

evidently foolish

Shifts the focus to the foolishness of something, using "evidently" and "foolish" as alternatives.

transparently nonsensical

Highlights the lack of sense in something, substituting with "transparently" and "nonsensical".

palpably false

Focuses on the evident falseness, replacing "ludicrous" with "false" and "plainly" with "palpably".

FAQs

How can I use "plainly ludicrous" in a sentence?

You can use "plainly ludicrous" to describe something that is not only ridiculous but also obviously so. For example, "The suggestion that we could complete the project with the current resources is "plainly ludicrous"."

What are some alternatives to "plainly ludicrous"?

Alternatives include "obviously absurd", "patently ridiculous", or "clearly preposterous", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "plainly ludicrous" formal or informal?

While grammatically correct, "plainly ludicrous" leans toward the neutral to slightly informal side. For highly formal contexts, consider alternatives like "manifestly absurd" or "unquestionably absurd".

What's the difference between "plainly ludicrous" and "simply ludicrous"?

"Plainly ludicrous" emphasizes the obviousness of the ridiculousness, whereas "simply ludicrous" focuses on the pure ridiculousness of something without necessarily implying it's obvious. Both are similar, but "plainly" adds an element of undeniable clarity.