somewhat notorious

USAGE SUMMARY

'somewhat notorious' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe someone (or something) as having a certain level of notoriety or fame. For example, one could say "The old abandoned house was somewhat notorious in the neighborhood due to its mysterious past."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Parsons was the creator of the popular and somewhat notorious British program "The Big Breakfast".

The New York Times - Magazine

The old, somewhat notorious Child Support Agency (CSA) is being phased out, and the new Child Maintenance Service CMSstillsomewhatmewhat controversial – is being phased in.

Independent

Mr. Williamson first made his professional mark at 17 as the youngest contributor to EC, the publisher of somewhat notorious horror tales, as well as combat stories and science fiction.

The New York Times - Arts

Although the UConn men's and women's basketball teams won a tandem championship in 2004, and although players on the women's team have typically excelled academically, the men's team has become somewhat notorious for problems.

The New York Times

As Mr. Weiner, a scandal-tarred former United States representative from Queens, considers jumping into the race, Mr. de Blasio has gone sharply negative, as if trying to establish his position as Ms. Quinn's chief liberal challenger before a better known, if somewhat notorious, hopeful usurps that role.

The New York Times

But what do they know about standing in my yard, serving wood or grooming a dog?" A few days ago, I remind him, the somewhat notorious Ukip MEP Godfrey Bloom appeared on 5 Live, reiterating his previous claim that employers could not be blamed for not wanting to give jobs to women who might then get pregnant.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

He was also the author of a collection of old proverbs; though well regarded, this work has been considered second to the anthology Al-Amthāl ("The Proverbs") written by his close contemporary Abū Faḍl al-Maydānī with whom al-Zamakhsharī had a notorious and somewhat undignified feud.

Encyclopedia Britannica

You are confused and somewhat incensed by the Notorious B.I.G. song "What's Beef".

Huffington Post

(Taxis are somewhat scarce, rarely metered and notorious for overcharging tourists).

The New York Times - Travel

This, then, for a trembling rugby league correspondent who was standing in the notorious Shed, was a somewhat reassuring night.

The Guardian - Sport

According to Icann, the organisation that oversees the net, thank (or blame) notorious pornographer Larry Flynt and his somewhat unlikely bedfellow, the British government.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "somewhat notorious" when you want to convey that someone or something has a known reputation, but it isn't extremely severe or widely recognized. This allows for a nuanced depiction of their standing.

Common error

Avoid using "somewhat notorious" when the subject is genuinely infamous or widely recognized for overwhelmingly negative reasons. Using "notorious" or "infamous" might be more appropriate in those cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "somewhat notorious" functions as a pre-modifying adjective phrase, adding descriptive detail to a noun. It specifies the degree to which something is known, often negatively, softening the impact compared to simply calling it "notorious". As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "somewhat notorious" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe something or someone with a moderate level of negative reputation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for use in neutral contexts, particularly in news and media, to convey a nuanced understanding of a subject's notoriety without overstating it. When using "somewhat notorious", ensure that the degree of notoriety aligns with the subject's actual reputation and avoid using it in contexts where a stronger term like "infamous" would be more accurate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a bit notorious

Uses "a bit" to replace "somewhat", indicating a slight degree of notoriety.

rather notorious

Replaces "somewhat" with "rather", providing a similar degree of qualification for the notoriety.

kind of notorious

Replaces "somewhat" with "kind of", maintaining a similar level of informality and approximation.

slightly infamous

Replaces "notorious" with "infamous" and "somewhat" with "slightly", suggesting a minor level of negative reputation.

somewhat ill-famed

Uses "ill-famed" as a synonym for "notorious", retaining "somewhat" to qualify the degree of negative fame.

somewhat disreputable

Substitutes "notorious" with "disreputable", which also denotes a lack of respectability, while retaining "somewhat" to indicate a partial degree.

moderately infamous

Uses "infamous" to indicate a bad reputation but qualifies it with "moderately" to soften the impact.

not entirely reputable

Expresses a similar meaning by negating "reputable" with "not entirely", implying a partial lack of good reputation.

slightly scandalous

Replaces "notorious" with "scandalous", suggesting the fame is tied to a particular scandal, with "slightly" softening the impact.

relatively well-known for

Replaces "notorious" with "well-known", shifting the connotation to be more neutral while maintaining a sense of public awareness.

FAQs

How can I use "somewhat notorious" in a sentence?

You can use "somewhat notorious" to describe someone or something that has a reputation, often negative, that isn't extremely severe or widely recognized. For example, "The restaurant was "somewhat notorious" for its slow service but excellent food".

What phrases are similar to "somewhat notorious"?

Alternatives include "slightly infamous", "a bit notorious", or "moderately infamous", all conveying a similar sense of moderate notoriety.

When is it inappropriate to use "somewhat notorious"?

It's inappropriate if the subject is widely and intensely known for negative reasons. In such cases, stronger terms like "infamous" or "notorious" without the qualifier are more fitting.

What's the difference between "somewhat notorious" and "notorious"?

"Somewhat notorious" implies a moderate or limited degree of negative reputation, while "notorious" suggests a more widespread and severe level of infamy. The addition of "somewhat" softens the impact.