ridiculously slow

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ridiculously slow" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is excessively or unreasonably slow, often in a humorous or exaggerated context. Example: "The internet connection was ridiculously slow, making it impossible to stream any videos."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Sheep watch lazily as the train meanders past (it averages 85km/hour, which seems ridiculously slow until you're on it and appreciate the pace).

The Guardian - Travel

"There's probably not going to be as much bounce as England are used to, but there's enough pace; it's not ridiculously slow.

BBC

USB sticks are ridiculously slow on 24.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Like many renovators, Mr. Langham found the going ridiculously slow.

The New York Times

I did not want to embarrass myself with a ridiculously slow time.

The New York Times - Health

Gould plays against the grain of these pieces: with staccato where legato is compellingly implied; at tempos that are either ridiculously slow or ridiculously fast.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

It wouldn't hurt if, at this juncture, Ms. Bhabha slowed down a little and — for sure — forgot about trying to fill Blum's ridiculously large Chelsea space.

The New York Times - Arts

Mr. Malone, who played guitar for a high-visibility period with Diana Krall, brings the virtuosity of a stricter, older period in jazz; he can play a slow blues beautifully and then play ridiculously fast four-bar breaks.

The New York Times

Whatever the case, it became a ridiculously compelling endeavour to its fans, perfectly combining those Halo-style bursts of shooter action with the slower arc of a loot gathering adventure.

The Guardian - Tech

Ridiculously hard.

The New Yorker

"Ridiculously cute.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ridiculously slow", consider the context. It's suitable for informal and semi-formal situations but may be too informal for highly formal or professional writing. Use alternative phrases like "excessively slow" in formal settings.

Common error

Avoid using "ridiculously slow" too frequently in your writing. While it can be effective for emphasis, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive or less impactful. Vary your language by using synonyms like "unbearably slow" or "incredibly slow" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "ridiculously slow" is to act as an adverbial modifier describing the degree to which something is slow. The adverb "ridiculously" intensifies the adjective "slow", indicating an extreme level of slowness. Ludwig AI examples show its use in various contexts to emphasize this.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

18%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ridiculously slow" is a commonly used phrase to describe something that is exceptionally and often frustratingly slow. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and suitability for various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While it adds emphasis and can be used humorously, it might be too informal for formal writing. Consider using alternatives like "excessively slow" or "unbearably slow" in more professional settings. Avoid overuse to maintain impact and variety in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

absurdly slow

Replaces "ridiculously" with "absurdly", emphasizing the unreasonable slowness.

unreasonably slow

Replaces "ridiculously" with "unreasonably", focusing on the lack of justification for the slowness.

excessively slow

Replaces "ridiculously" with "excessively", highlighting that the slowness is beyond the normal or acceptable level.

incredibly slow

Replaces "ridiculously" with "incredibly", intensifying the degree of slowness.

ludicrously slow

Substitutes "ridiculously" with "ludicrously", implying the slowness is laughable or foolish.

painfully slow

Replaces "ridiculously" with "painfully", emphasizing the unpleasantness of the slowness.

terribly slow

Substitutes "ridiculously" with "terribly", indicating a great degree of slowness.

agonizingly slow

Replaces "ridiculously" with "agonizingly", emphasizing the frustration caused by the slowness.

unbearably slow

Substitutes "ridiculously" with "unbearably", signifying that the slowness is intolerable.

comically slow

Replaces "ridiculously" with "comically", suggesting the slowness is so extreme it's almost funny.

FAQs

How can I use "ridiculously slow" in a sentence?

You can use "ridiculously slow" to describe something moving or operating at an extremely slow pace. For example, "The train was ridiculously slow, making the journey much longer than expected" or "My computer is ridiculously slow; it takes forever to load a simple webpage".

What are some alternatives to "ridiculously slow"?

You can use alternatives like "absurdly slow", "excessively slow", or "unreasonably slow" depending on the context. Each emphasizes the extreme slowness in a slightly different way.

Is "ridiculously slow" appropriate for formal writing?

While "ridiculously slow" is perfectly acceptable in informal contexts, it might be too casual for formal writing. In those cases, opt for alternatives such as "excessively slow" or "unacceptably slow" which maintain a more professional tone.

What's the difference between "ridiculously slow" and "very slow"?

"Ridiculously slow" implies a greater degree of slowness than "very slow". "Very slow" simply indicates that something is not fast, while "ridiculously slow" suggests it is absurdly or unreasonably slow, often evoking a sense of frustration or humor.