relatively ambitious

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "relatively ambitious" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a goal, project, or plan that is considered ambitious in comparison to others, but not excessively so. Example: "The team's proposal for the new marketing strategy is relatively ambitious, aiming to increase market share by 20% within the next year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

That sounds modest, but is actually relatively ambitious.

The Economist

But health officials defended the scope as relatively ambitious in terms of national experience.

The New York Times

Maybe another time: Despite the missteps, Bertucci's has a relatively ambitious menu, with several dishes worth exploring, perhaps on a less busy weeknight.

The New York Times

A relatively ambitious development program was greatly assisted by the high prices realized for cotton and coffee; coffee overtook cotton as Uganda's most valuable export in 1957.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Labor is promising some kind of emissions trading scheme and a relatively ambitious renewable energy target – but no details yet lest it once again feel the barrage of a full bore axe-the-tax scare campaign.

The Guardian

She said: "If all other big economies in the world do a relatively ambitious effort equal to what we are now proposing, the world will be in a better state when it comes to combating climate change".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

"We are a relatively young and ambitious university.

The New York Times

If you are a woman with a small bust (less than 34 inches), the first impression someone is likely to have of you is that you are relatively intelligent, competent, ambitious, modest and moral, but if you have a big bust (37 inches or more), you will be perceived — at least at first glance — as being unintelligent, incompetent, lazy, immodest and immoral (Journal of Social Psychology, 1980).

The New York Times - Style

Regarding the latter, for instance, proof that songs can improve memorization of scientific words might come relatively easily; a more ambitious study attempting to show that songs improve conceptual understanding beyond verbatim recall would be more interesting to educators but also more likely to fail.

CBE Life Sciences Education

It has a compelling sweep, and, for a relatively short feature, an expansive, ambitious sense of character-growth.

The Guardian - Film

Tidjane Thiam, Prudential's chief executive of seven months, has faced strong criticism for trying such an ambitious deal with relatively little experience.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing projects or goals, use "relatively ambitious" to indicate that they are more ambitious than typical but not excessively so. This helps set realistic expectations and avoids overstating the scope.

Common error

Avoid using "relatively ambitious" when describing tasks that are clearly routine or easily achievable. Overusing the phrase can dilute its meaning and make your descriptions sound exaggerated.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "relatively ambitious" primarily functions as an adjectival modifier, describing the degree or extent of ambition associated with a noun. It qualifies the noun, indicating that it possesses a level of ambition that is greater than average, but not excessively so. Ludwig provides numerous examples showcasing this function.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "relatively ambitious" serves as an adjectival modifier, indicating a level of ambition that is above average but not excessive. As Ludwig confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. Its purpose is to qualify or moderate the extent of ambition, setting realistic expectations. While similar phrases exist, such as "moderately aspiring" or "somewhat challenging", "relatively ambitious" strikes a balance between aspiration and feasibility. Therefore, use the phrase to accurately convey a moderate level of ambition without exaggerating the scope.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

moderately aspiring

Replaces 'ambitious' with 'aspiring' and 'relatively' with 'moderately', softening the intensity slightly.

somewhat challenging

Shifts focus to the difficulty aspect, replacing 'ambitious' with 'challenging' and 'relatively' with 'somewhat'.

fairly enterprising

Uses 'enterprising' to emphasize initiative, with 'fairly' indicating a moderate level.

reasonably extensive

Highlights scope, replacing 'ambitious' with 'extensive' and 'relatively' with 'reasonably'.

quite far-reaching

Focuses on the impact or consequences, using 'far-reaching' instead of 'ambitious' and 'quite' for moderation.

slightly groundbreaking

Emphasizes innovation, substituting 'ambitious' with 'groundbreaking' and using 'slightly' to denote a subtle degree.

comparatively bold

Highlights audacity, replacing 'ambitious' with 'bold' and using 'comparatively' for relative comparison.

kind of visionary

Focuses on forward-thinking qualities, replacing 'ambitious' with 'visionary' and using 'kind of' to soften the claim.

somewhat progressive

Emphasizes advancement, substituting 'ambitious' with 'progressive' and using 'somewhat' to indicate a degree.

mildly assertive

Highlights the proactive nature, replacing 'ambitious' with 'assertive' and using 'mildly' to reduce the intensity.

FAQs

How can I use "relatively ambitious" in a sentence?

You can use "relatively ambitious" to describe plans, goals, or projects that are more challenging or extensive than usual, but not excessively so. For example, "The company set a "relatively ambitious" target for revenue growth this year".

What are some alternatives to "relatively ambitious"?

Alternatives include phrases like "moderately aspiring", "somewhat challenging", or "fairly enterprising", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "relatively ambitious"?

It's appropriate when you want to acknowledge that something is more challenging or extensive than normal, but you don't want to overstate its difficulty or scope. It implies a moderate level of aspiration.

Is "relatively ambitious" formal or informal?

"Relatively ambitious" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall tone of the communication.