prohibitively low

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prohibitively low" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a cost or price that is so low that it prevents or discourages action or participation. Example: "The prices for the concert tickets were prohibitively low, leading to an overwhelming demand and a sold-out show."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Its prohibitively low prices warded off competition.

The New Yorker

In short, I have a prohibitively low unfairness threshold, which prevents my reading (and certainly rereading) many classic novels.

The Guardian - Books

Before 2013 the allowable oxygen content for grid injection was prohibitively low, but a change to regulations in 2014 raised this to an achievable level.

The Guardian

While those of us in the horse racing world mourn the devastating loss of one of our finest athletes ("Antley's Wild Ride Reaches Violent End," Dec. 17), we should be reminded of a root cause that needs to be seriously addressed and that may have contributed to Chris Antley's untimely death: the prohibitively low weights assigned by racing secretaries to jockeys.

The New York Times - Sports

Although this result seemed good, optical transparency of this PTFE-SU-8 nano-composite film was only 31%, prohibitively low in practical optical transparency applications.

Micro and Nano Systems Letters

However, the one step solver directly incorporated with optimization may result in inadequate design precision, while the incremental method often leads to a prohibitively low computing efficiency.

Finite Elements in Analysis and Design

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

This method remains true to the requirement that samples are taken from the prior subject to the likelihood constraint, but its efficiency is poor: as the lowest likelihood increases, the acceptance rate becomes prohibitively small.

Bioinformatics

Central Alabama's unique soils make septic systems prohibitively expensive for low-income residents, most of whom are African-American.

Huffington Post

The kind of gear Kim was trying to export was once prohibitively expensive, but low-end night vision gear is now marketed to hunters and can be purchased from sporting goods retailers for under $100.

Huffington Post

Drug discovery is slow and prohibitively expensive resulting in low rates of novel agents reaching the clinic [1] [3].

Plosone

Secondly, even after the number of cases began to increase again and people became more aware of the importance of proper treatment, the costs were prohibitively high in many low income areas.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "prohibitively low", ensure the context clearly indicates what the low level is preventing or discouraging. This adds clarity and impact to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "prohibitively low" to describe subjective preferences. This phrase is most effective when referring to measurable quantities or defined standards that, when too low, create a barrier or obstacle.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prohibitively low" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It describes something that is so reduced or minimal that it acts as a deterrent or makes something unfeasible. Ludwig AI confirms that this is a correct and usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

33.33%

News & Media

50%

Wiki

16.66%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "prohibitively low" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression for describing something that is so reduced or minimal that it acts as a deterrent or makes something unfeasible. According to Ludwig, the phrase is found across various contexts, including scientific publications, news articles, and business communications, with a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates what the low level is preventing or discouraging. Some alternatives that can be used instead of "prohibitively low" are "excessively meager", "unacceptably inadequate" and "critically insufficient".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

critically insufficient

Emphasizes the severity of the lack, suggesting that the lowness poses a significant problem.

unacceptably inadequate

Focuses on the failure to meet a required or expected standard due to lowness.

unreasonably deficient

Indicates that the lowness is beyond what is considered fair or justifiable.

excessively curtailed

Focuses on the reduction to a level that is considered too low.

excessively meager

Emphasizes the insufficiency in quantity or amount, highlighting its inadequacy for a particular purpose.

markedly substandard

Indicates a noticeable and unacceptable deviation below an expected level.

impractically minimal

Highlights the impracticality resulting from an extremely small or low quantity.

prohibitively restricted

Highlights the limitations imposed by a low level, focusing on the constraint rather than the level itself.

unfeasibly diminutive

Stresses the unsuitability of something because it is too small or low.

unduly conservative

Suggests that the lowness is a result of excessive caution or restraint.

FAQs

How can the phrase "prohibitively low" be used in a sentence?

The phrase "prohibitively low" is used to describe something that is so low that it prevents a certain action or outcome. For example: "The reimbursement rates were "prohibitively low", causing many doctors to opt out of the insurance network."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "prohibitively low"?

Alternatives to "prohibitively low" include "unacceptably inadequate", "critically insufficient", or "excessively meager", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "prohibitively low" or "unacceptably low"?

Both phrases are valid, but "prohibitively low" implies that the low level directly prevents something from happening, while "unacceptably low" simply means that the level is not adequate or satisfactory. The best choice depends on the intended meaning.

What does it mean when something is described as "prohibitively low"?

When something is described as "prohibitively low", it means that its level, quantity, or value is so low that it effectively prevents a particular action, outcome, or participation. It indicates a significant barrier created by the lowness of something.