sucks

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "sucks" can be used in written English, although it is considered informal and should generally be avoided in professional contexts.
It is usually used to express a negative opinion or feeling about something. Example: "This new software sucks; it's so hard to use!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

French police say the body of a young woman has been found inside a machine that scoops and sucks up snow at a ski resort in the Pyrenees.

The Guardian

Which sucks because I have three kids and I really liked that job.

The Guardian - Tech

In the course of that epic odyssey, I made the following entry in my notebook: "The wind sucks and blows.

The Guardian - Travel

All of its players are informed by these values to some extent, and it sucks: for example, the depressingly familiar narrative of a woman being denigrated for her aesthetic choices and her agency in making those choices denied.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Investment in existing properties sucks money out of the economy by funnelling tenants' pay packets into the pockets of landlords," he said.

The Guardian - Money

The Toronto film festival, of which Midnight Madness is one of the programming strands, has achieved critical mass: a gravitational vortex that sucks in the Hollywood A-list, spits out Oscar-winners and facilitates galaxy-sized deals.

The Guardian - Film

From rifling through the murder scene to studying forensics and testing deductions, it sucks you in.

The Guardian - Tech

Twitter's chief executive has acknowledged that the company "sucks at dealing with abuse and trolls on the platform, and we've sucked at it for years", in a leaked memo.

The Guardian - Tech

But then Herrick later sucks on the stained tissue like a wild animal.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Facebook Twitter Google plus Share Share this post Facebook Twitter Google plus close 8.44pm AESTRY:44 TRY! Queensland 4-4 NSW (B. Morris 20) Out of nowhere, Hayne sucks in two defenders with a stellar burst of speed, giving Josh Morris open space.

The Guardian - Sport

Goldman has built a threat-management centre staffed by ex-spooks who scan cyberspace for anything that could pose a risk to the bank and then tweak its defences accordingly.Facebook, a prime target for hackers and spammers, has built ThreatData, a computer system that sucks in vast amounts of information about threats from a wide range of sources, including lists of malicious websites.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sucks" sparingly in formal writing. Reserve it for informal contexts or when conveying strong negative emotion is desired.

Common error

Avoid using "sucks" in business reports, academic papers, or formal emails. Opt for more professional and nuanced language to express your dissatisfaction.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "sucks" is as a third-person singular present tense verb, typically used to express a negative evaluation or disapproval of something. Ludwig confirms this usage with examples like "Studying grammar sucks."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "sucks" is an informal way to express strong disapproval or dislike. Ludwig AI indicates that its primary function is as a third-person singular verb, used to convey negative sentiment. While common in everyday speech and sometimes found in news contexts, it should be avoided in formal or professional writing in favor of more neutral alternatives. Its prevalence across various news and media sources indicates its widespread understanding, but its informal register limits its appropriateness in certain settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is terrible

Changes the intensity and adopts a more generally negative descriptor.

is dreadful

Expresses strong dislike or disappointment.

is awful

Similar to 'is terrible' but perhaps slightly less intense.

is lousy

Uses a more colloquial and informal term to indicate poor quality.

is subpar

A more concise way to say something is below average.

is substandard

Emphasizes that something is below the expected or required standard.

is disappointing

Focuses on the feeling of unmet expectations.

is not up to par

Indicates that something has failed to reach an acceptable standard or level of quality.

is inadequate

Indicates a lack of sufficiency or suitability for a specific purpose.

is deficient

Highlights a specific lack or shortage in something.

FAQs

How can I use "sucks" in a sentence?

You can use "sucks" to express strong dislike or disapproval, such as: "This traffic "sucks"!" or "My new job "sucks"." Remember it is informal.

What's a more formal alternative to "sucks"?

Instead of "sucks", consider using more formal alternatives like "is terrible", "is awful", or "is disappointing" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "sucks" in business communication?

Generally, no. "Sucks" is considered informal. In professional settings, it is better to use more neutral or formal language to express dissatisfaction or critique.

What's the difference between "sucks" and "is not good"?

"Sucks" is a much stronger and more informal expression of negativity than "is not good". While "is not good" is a neutral statement, "sucks" conveys a strong sense of displeasure or frustration.