seriously disappointing

USAGE SUMMARY

"seriously disappointing" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to express a strong sense of dissatisfaction or letdown regarding something. An example: "The movie was seriously disappointing, failing to meet my expectations." Alternative expressions include "deeply disappointing" and "profoundly disappointing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Rabbatts said: "The FA's reaction to the treatment of Dr Eva Carneiro has been seriously disappointing.

The Guardian - Sport

Rabbatts told Press Association Sport: "The FA's reaction to the treatment of Dr Eva Carneiro has been seriously disappointing.

Independent

Rabbatts told Press Association Sport earlier in October: "The FA's reaction to the treatment of Dr Eva Carneiro has been seriously disappointing.

Independent

Heather Rabbatts has been heavily critical of the FA's handling of the case of Carneiro, describing it as "seriously disappointing", and is now facing a complaint for alleged breach of the FA's code of conduct.

Independent

The letter was sent following Wednesday's FA board meeting, since when independent board member Heather Rabbatts launched a stinging attack on the FA for its "seriously disappointing" handling of the Carneiro case.

Independent

2 Buy the pudding I can eat this fruit-laden plum pud at any time of year, rain or shine, but it has to be said there are some seriously disappointing versions about.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

'Seriously, though, it was disappointing.

The Guardian - Sport

When she did manage to persuade medical professionals to take her seriously, the results were disappointing.

The New Yorker

Seriously, though, our Most Disappointing Democrat Of The Week this week is none other than Senator Max Baucus.

Huffington Post

Not only is it beyond irritating and embarrassing, especially since it's typically accompanied with snickers and whispers that I can hear, but it's disappointing that people seriously don't think that a young, "pretty girl" would be traveling alone, solely for the sake of traveling!

Huffington Post

"We take this very seriously, and this has been very disappointing in terms of not meeting those expectations this week".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seriously disappointing" to express a strong sense of dissatisfaction when something falls significantly short of expectations. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts where a strong negative sentiment needs to be conveyed.

Common error

Avoid using "seriously disappointing" in overly casual or lighthearted situations. While grammatically correct, it can sound overly dramatic or intense when a milder expression would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seriously disappointing" functions primarily as a compound adjective. It modifies a noun, describing it as failing to meet expectations in a significant or noteworthy manner. This is supported by the examples Ludwig provides, where the phrase describes various entities such as jobs reports or the handling of cases.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "seriously disappointing" functions as a compound adjective used to express a strong sense of dissatisfaction when something fails to meet expectations. As highlighted by Ludwig, its usage is considered grammatically correct and particularly common in news and media contexts. While versatile, it should be used thoughtfully to avoid sounding overly dramatic in informal settings. Alternatives like "deeply unsatisfactory" or "profoundly underwhelming" can offer similar sentiments with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deeply unsatisfactory

Replaces "disappointing" with a more formal synonym, "unsatisfactory", to intensify the negative sentiment.

profoundly underwhelming

Emphasizes the lack of excitement or satisfaction, indicating a significant letdown.

major letdown

Uses a more informal expression to describe something that failed to meet expectations.

grave disappointment

Emphasizes the seriousness of the disappointment felt.

extremely discouraging

Focuses on the discouraging effect of the situation or event.

bitterly disillusioning

Highlights the feeling of disillusionment and the associated negative emotions.

severely frustrating

Shifts the focus to the frustration caused by the disappointing outcome.

woefully inadequate

Points out a significant deficiency or lack of quality.

remarkably subpar

Indicates that something is significantly below the expected or usual standard.

quite disheartening

Emphasizes the discouraging effect and the emotional impact.

FAQs

What does "seriously disappointing" mean?

The phrase "seriously disappointing" means something has failed to meet expectations to a significant degree, causing notable dissatisfaction or frustration.

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

You can use "seriously disappointing" to describe events, products, performances, or outcomes that are markedly below the expected standard. For example, "The movie was "seriously disappointing", especially considering the hype."

What can I say instead of "seriously disappointing"?

You can use alternatives like "deeply unsatisfactory", "profoundly underwhelming", or "major letdown" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is "seriously disappointing" formal or informal?

"Seriously disappointing" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. While "seriously" adds emphasis, the phrase remains widely accepted in various types of writing.