still a disaster

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "still a disaster" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a situation that remains problematic or unsuccessful despite the passage of time. Example: "Despite the efforts to improve the project, it is still a disaster." Alternative expressions include "remains a mess" and "continues to be a failure."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

But it was still a disaster of its own.

Independent

The cotton-linen pants were still a disaster.

The New York Times

Right now, though, housing is still a disaster area".

The New York Times

The Russian economy is still a disaster in many ways.

The New York Times - Magazine

Improve traffic light phasing (still a disaster after Ken's tampering) and introduce more "filter alternately" junctions.

The Guardian - Opinion

While this happened to some extent on the Syrian front, things were still a disaster at the Suez.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

On Tuesday this paper published a secret recording of her addressing bankers at Goldman Sachs last spring – back in the mists of time when she was still home secretary, and Brexit was still officially a disaster.

The Guardian - Opinion

I guess that's cute, but Reddit's still mostly a disaster.

TechCrunch

Why Is New York's Juvenile Justice System Still Such a Disaster?

Vice

However, the branch of economics known as game theory suggests that people acting entirely rationally can still cause a disaster.

Huffington Post

Here's something to think about: If a storm slams a beach and there isn't a house to destroy, is it still a natural disaster?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "still a disaster" to emphasize the continuation of a negative situation despite efforts to improve it. Ensure the context clearly indicates what the 'disaster' refers to.

Common error

Avoid using "still a disaster" without providing sufficient context. Make sure your audience understands what situation you're referring to and why it's considered a disaster.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "still a disaster" functions as a descriptive expression, typically serving as a subject complement or an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. According to Ludwig, the structure is considered correct and is used to express a continued state of failure or extreme negativity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "still a disaster" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe a situation that continues to be problematic despite efforts to improve it. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase functions descriptively and is most frequently found in news and media contexts. While grammatically correct, consider the formality of your context and opt for alternatives such as "remains a catastrophe" or "continues to be a failure" for more formal settings. Ensure you provide sufficient context to avoid ambiguity, clearly indicating what the 'disaster' refers to.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remains a catastrophe

Replaces "disaster" with "catastrophe", emphasizing the scale of the problem.

is still a mess

Uses "mess" instead of "disaster", suggesting a lack of order or organization.

continues to be a failure

Replaces the noun "disaster" with the more explicit term "failure", focusing on the lack of success.

hasn't improved at all

Shifts the focus to the lack of improvement rather than directly labeling it a disaster.

is an ongoing calamity

Uses "calamity" to suggest a severe event or situation causing distress or damage.

remains problematic

Highlights the continued existence of problems, though it may not be as severe as a disaster.

is still a wreck

Employs "wreck" to indicate ruin or devastation, similar to disaster.

is yet to recover

Focuses on the lack of recovery from a previous negative situation.

is an unmitigated failure

Adds intensity by describing the failure as "unmitigated", suggesting no redeeming qualities.

persists as a debacle

Uses "debacle" suggesting a humiliating failure or fiasco.

FAQs

What does "still a disaster" mean?

The phrase "still a disaster" means that a situation continues to be extremely bad or unsuccessful, even after a period of time or attempts to improve it.

What can I say instead of "still a disaster"?

You can use alternatives like "remains a catastrophe", "is still a mess", or "continues to be a failure" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "still a disaster" in formal writing?

While "still a disaster" is grammatically correct, it might be too informal for certain formal contexts. Consider using more neutral or professional alternatives like "remains problematic" or "has not improved".

How can I use "still a disaster" in a sentence?

You can use "still a disaster" to describe various situations. For example: "The project is still a disaster despite our best efforts" or "The economy is still a disaster after the recession".