severely bad

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "severely bad" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is extremely poor in quality or very negative in nature. Example: "The weather was severely bad, causing the event to be canceled."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

He said that counseling helped him understand that he wasn't an alcoholic but had "screwed up, made a severely bad judgment".

The New York Times - Sports

Investors largely looked past signs of sluggish performance in Coke's domestic soft-drink business yesterday because many of them had been bracing for severely bad news from the company after Coca-Cola Enterprises, Coke's largest bottler, said Wednesday that its second-quarter sales in North America were flat.

The New York Times

Since different users have different channel conditions, some users may get a severely bad channel condition.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

PAUSE. 1 The B-SS is not shown in the case of M=4 due to a severely bad performance.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

For the past two years I've written reviews of The Golden Globes excoriating Ricky Gervais for mostly tedious humor and lapses in judgment that resulted in so-called jokes that were in severely bad taste.

Huffington Post

If you get a severely bad pain which hurts so much that you can't go on, stop.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

When he got to college, Jason discovered that his research skills were severely deficient very bad.

The New Yorker

Only 34.1 overs were possible on a fourth day severely interrupted by bad light and rain, raising the tourists' hopes of saving the test.

The New York Times - Sports

It was the first time in 12 years that attendance fell below capacity on two consecutive days – the last time was in 2004, which was severely hit by bad weather, resulting in play being held on the middle Sunday.

The Guardian - Sport

The recovery efforts, led by the Indonesian military and the Indonesian search and rescue agency, have been severely hampered by bad weather and heavy seas.

BBC

The bursting of the dot-com bubble was long overdue, but as in any shakeout, the good companies have been punished just as severely as the bad.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "severely bad", consider the context and intended impact. While acceptable, it can sometimes sound redundant; ensure the 'severely' adds necessary emphasis to the 'bad' aspect you're describing.

Common error

While "severely bad" is understandable, it might appear less sophisticated in formal writing. Opt for more precise and nuanced vocabulary that pinpoints the exact nature and degree of the problem, like "critically flawed" or "exceptionally substandard".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "severely bad" functions as an intensifier plus adjective, modifying a noun to emphasize the extreme degree of negativity or poor quality. Ludwig confirms it as usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

13%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "severely bad" is a grammatically sound phrase used to emphasize a high degree of negativity. While Ludwig confirms its usability, remember that more precise language might be preferable in formal contexts. Its occurrence is relatively uncommon, appearing mainly in news and media sources, according to Ludwig's analysis. Consider the impact and appropriateness of the phrase in your writing to ensure it conveys the intended emphasis effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely poor

Emphasizes the deficient quality to a high degree, similar to "severely bad" but with a focus on quality.

terribly awful

Conveys a strong sense of negativity and unpleasantness, intensifying the badness.

significantly deficient

Highlights a notable lack or inadequacy, focusing on the shortfall rather than the overall badness.

critically flawed

Indicates a serious problem or weakness that undermines the integrity or functionality of something.

remarkably substandard

Points out a noticeable failure to meet a required level of quality or performance.

woefully inadequate

Stresses the insufficiency or unsuitability, often implying disappointment or regret.

exceptionally substandard

Emphasizes that something is below the expected level with particular intensity.

abysmally poor

Implies a state of extreme deficiency, evoking a sense of depth to the poor quality.

decidedly inferior

Focuses on the lack of good qualities in comparison with another thing or the average.

patently deficient

Highlights the obvious and undeniable inadequacy of something.

FAQs

How can "severely bad" be used in a sentence?

You can use "severely bad" to describe situations or conditions that are extremely negative or of poor quality. For example, "The accident resulted in "severely bad" injuries" or "The company experienced "severely bad" publicity after the scandal".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "severely bad"?

Alternatives include "extremely poor", "terribly awful", or "critically flawed". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it redundant to say "severely bad"?

While "bad" already implies negativity, "severely" intensifies it. Whether it's redundant depends on the context. If you want to strongly emphasize the degree of badness, "severely bad" can be appropriate. However, consider whether a more specific adjective might be more effective.

When should I use "severely bad" instead of just "bad"?

Use "severely bad" when you want to stress the high degree of negativity or poor quality. For instance, if the consequences of something bad are particularly serious, "severely bad" can emphasize the gravity of the situation. For example, "severely bad" weather may cause more disruption compared to "bad" weather.