prodigious success

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prodigious success" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an achievement that is remarkably great or impressive in scale or degree. Example: "The launch of the new product was met with prodigious success, exceeding all sales expectations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

My amateur math tells me the probability of his prodigious success was one in 256.

The New York Times

In 1934, Time ran a business story on her prodigious success and put her on the cover.

The New Yorker

Chiuri, in partnership with Pierpaulo Piccioli, has enjoyed a decade of prodigious success at Valentino, where profits have risen sharply.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Watson finished with the crown and a 3-to-1 advantage for quickness and correctness over the nearest rival, who scored prodigious success on past shows.

The New York Times

But balanced against those fears is the prodigious success she had with 50 Acts, and the number of people with whom it struck a chord.

The Guardian

Bernie Ecclestone, the Rumpelstiltskin lookalike who has spun gold for himself and Formula One with prodigious success, has been written off many times – and it is happening again with the news the sport could be bought by Liberty Media within a matter of days.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

"The amazing thing about Allan Bloom's book was not just its prodigious commercial success... but the depth of the hostility and even hatred that it inspired among a large number of professors," John Searle, the Berkeley philosophy professor and former proponent of the '60s radical Free Speech Movement wrote in The New York Review of Books in 1990.

The New York Times - Books

Jewkes and Morrell (2010) conclude in a review about gender and sexuality that the norm of black Africans emphasizes toughness, strength, and expression of prodigious sexual success, and that it is such masculinity that women desire.

Archives of Sexual Behavior

Those prodigious Victorian successes belonged in the history books now because they'd sent their darlings to Harrow.

Independent

Following both guitarists' return to the band and its complete drug cleanup, Aerosmith made a prodigious return to success, once described as "the single most successful comeback in the history of heavy metal, if not all of popular music".

Wikipedia

There is, for a start, the prodigious amount of sexual success that Lucifer enjoys - with both men (most notably in The Devil in Amber with a bellhop called Rex, whose 'bum looked dashed appealing in those tight blue trousers') and women (The Vesuvius Club's cheesily named young lovely Bella Pok).

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing achievements, use "prodigious success" to emphasize the scale and impressiveness of the accomplishment. For instance, "The company's marketing campaign achieved prodigious success, resulting in record sales."

Common error

While "prodigious success" effectively conveys significant achievement, avoid using it in casual conversation or informal writing. Simpler terms like "great success" or "big win" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prodigious success" functions as a noun phrase, where "prodigious" modifies the noun "success". It emphasizes the exceptional scale or degree of the success achieved. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "prodigious success" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase for describing achievements of remarkable scale or degree. Ludwig's analysis shows that it is most frequently used in news and media contexts. While it is a powerful way to emphasize the significance of an accomplishment, it is important to consider the audience and context, opting for simpler language in more informal settings. The provided examples and related phrases offer further guidance on using "prodigious success" effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remarkable triumph

Replaces "success" with "triumph", suggesting a more significant victory.

astounding achievement

Substitutes "success" with "achievement", emphasizing the accomplishment itself and "prodigious" with "astounding" which is a very high degree of surprise or wonder.

exceptional accomplishment

Replaces "success" with "accomplishment", and "prodigious" with "exceptional" which is very high or superior.

phenomenal breakthrough

Replaces the original phrase to highlight that a significant barrier has been overcome, using "phenomenal" to indicate its impressiveness.

outstanding feat

Uses "feat" to underscore the skill or effort involved in achieving success, and "outstanding" to show prominence.

extraordinary win

Focuses on the victory aspect of success, using "win" and describing it as "extraordinary".

unprecedented achievement

Highlights the novelty of the success by using "unprecedented", meaning it has never happened before.

major breakthrough

This suggests significant advancement or discovery, replacing "prodigious" with "major".

notable accomplishment

Indicates a success worthy of attention or recognition, replacing "prodigious" with "notable".

resounding victory

Emphasizes the decisiveness and completeness of the success, using "victory".

FAQs

How can I use "prodigious success" in a sentence?

Use "prodigious success" to describe achievements that are remarkably great. For example: "The experiment was a "prodigious success", exceeding all expectations."

What are some alternatives to "prodigious success"?

Alternatives include "remarkable triumph", "astounding achievement", or "exceptional accomplishment", depending on the context and the aspect you want to emphasize.

Is "prodigious success" formal or informal?

"Prodigious success" leans towards the formal side. While acceptable in various contexts, it is particularly suited for formal writing or professional communications. In informal settings, simpler alternatives might be preferable.

What does "prodigious" mean in the context of "prodigious success"?

In this context, "prodigious" means remarkably or impressively great in extent, size, or degree. It emphasizes that the success is not just ordinary but exceptionally large or significant.