quite disappointing

USAGE SUMMARY

"quite disappointing" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is more than slightly disappointing, but not completely disheartening. For example, you could say: "The results of the exam were quite disappointing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's quite disappointing waking up.

Independent

"The landlords' response was quite disappointing".

The New York Times

They were quite disappointing because they weren't shiny".

Independent

"Global economic developments have been quite disappointing," said Poloz.

The Guardian

In the first half United were simply quite disappointing.

The Guardian - Sport

Our performance was quite disappointing, as "Sir Loops-a-Lot" failed to capture a single cylinder.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Which will strike many Americans as quite disappointing (but I suppose it could be worse).

The Economist

So this month's figure was quite disappointing," said Tanweer Akram, senior economist at Voya Investment Management.

The Guardian - Business

Economist had expected growth of around 0.4%, so this is quite disappointing.

The Guardian - Business

"It's really quite disappointing because we weren't close to reaching our goal," Dr. Moore said.

The New York Times - Health

"It was quite disappointing," said Mr. Punsalan, who wrote about his frustration on his blog.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "quite disappointing" in formal writing, consider the audience and ensure it aligns with the overall tone and register of the document.

Common error

Avoid using "quite disappointing" when a stronger term like "devastating" or "unacceptable" is more appropriate. Ensure the phrase accurately reflects the level of disappointment experienced.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "quite disappointing" functions as an adjective phrase, typically modifying a noun or pronoun to describe something that has failed to meet expectations to a noticeable degree. This aligns with Ludwig AI which identifies it as a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "quite disappointing" is a versatile adjective phrase used to express a moderate level of dissatisfaction. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts. As indicated by the examples, it's frequently used in news, academic, and scientific settings. When writing, ensure the level of disappointment conveyed by the phrase aligns with the situation, and consider alternative phrases like "rather underwhelming" or "somewhat dissatisfying" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fell short of expectations

Directly states that expectations were not met.

somewhat dissatisfying

Highlights a degree of unmet expectations.

less than satisfactory

Indicates a lack of fulfillment or contentment.

rather underwhelming

Emphasizes a lack of excitement or impressiveness.

a bit discouraging

Focuses on the discouraging aspect of the situation or result.

distinctly underwhelming

A more emphatic way of saying something lacks impressiveness

pretty disheartening

Indicates a stronger sense of disappointment and loss of morale.

not up to par

Suggests that something did not meet the expected standard.

rather frustrating

Highlights the annoyance and irritation caused by the disappointment.

a letdown

A more informal way to express disappointment.

FAQs

How can I use "quite disappointing" in a sentence?

You can use "quite disappointing" to describe something that didn't meet expectations but wasn't a complete failure. For example, "The movie was "quite disappointing", but it had a few good scenes."

What are some alternatives to saying "quite disappointing"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "rather underwhelming", "somewhat dissatisfying", or "a bit discouraging".

Is it appropriate to use "quite disappointing" in formal writing?

Yes, "quite disappointing" is generally acceptable in formal writing, although it's important to consider the audience and the overall tone. More formal alternatives might be "less than satisfactory" or "fell short of expectations".

When should I use a stronger phrase instead of "quite disappointing"?

If the level of disappointment is significant or the outcome is severely negative, consider using stronger phrases such as "deeply disappointing", "extremely disheartening", or "utterly unacceptable".