terrible patience

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "terrible patience" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone has an excessive or frustrating level of patience, often in a negative context. Example: "Despite the chaos around him, his terrible patience made him wait for hours without complaint."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Hébuterne tended to him with "a terrible patience".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"It was terrible; that's beyond patience.

The New York Times - Sports

All of her co-workers watched with fear as she fell To her terrible fate, her sublime patience Challenged with the enormity of the group order.

The New Yorker

It's terrible, I've got no patience for ads.

The Guardian

This was, in the main, a programme about doctors and parents finding reserves of patience, strength, hope and humour in terrible situations.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

However, greed is a terrible demon and I for one have no patience for it.

Huffington Post

You never know if someone is having a terrible day, and your simple act of kindness, patience or forgiveness can make the situation better or at least less volatile than it could be.

WikiHow

But if you believe, as I do, that global stability still hinges on the credibility of that power, "strategic patience" is the least bad of the terrible options Bush's now amnesia-clouded incompetence has bequeathed.

The New York Times

It's terrible to turn deaths into a symbol, but the blood spilt symbolises the end of patience, tolerance and passive or active acceptance of the ways of the Greek political class.

The Guardian - Opinion

I don't have much patience for Obama triumphalists who see everything connected to George Bush's eight years as unmitigatedly terrible, ripe for complete transformation in the hands of the president-elect.

The Economist

Except for those with pockets deep enough to arrange chartered flights between the dunes and the Damara homesteads, it demands patience with corrugated gravel roads and mile after mile of what poets are fond of calling terrible beauty.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "terrible patience" when you want to highlight a situation where patience is tested to an extreme, almost unbearable, degree. It conveys a sense of long-suffering that is both remarkable and perhaps detrimental.

Common error

Avoid using "terrible patience" in situations where simple patience would suffice. The phrase is best reserved for scenarios involving genuine hardship or extreme provocation where maintaining composure is extraordinarily difficult.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "terrible patience" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "terrible" modifies the noun "patience". It describes a specific kind of patience, one that is severely tested or extremely difficult to maintain. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "terrible patience" combines an adjective and a noun to describe a specific type of endurance, where one’s patience is tested to an extreme degree. Ludwig AI validates its usage, noting that it often carries a negative connotation, suggesting a difficult or unbearable situation. While grammatically correct, its rarity suggests its application is best suited for scenarios demanding a more nuanced description of prolonged suffering or extreme endurance. Consider alternatives like "extreme forbearance" or "remarkable tolerance" depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extreme forbearance

Replaces "terrible" with "extreme" and "patience" with "forbearance", intensifying the degree of tolerance.

remarkable tolerance

Shifts the focus to the noteworthy level of tolerance, rather than emphasizing the negative aspect.

extraordinary long-suffering

Emphasizes the prolonged nature of enduring hardship or provocation with patience.

uncommon restraint

Highlights the rarity of such controlled behavior, downplaying the suffering.

frustratingly slow pace

Focuses on the slowness that tests one's patience, rather than on the patience itself.

exasperating persistence

Combines the irritating nature of something with its continuous presence or action.

agonizingly slow process

Draws attention to the painful aspect of a gradual progression.

unyielding composure

Stresses steadfast self-control, even in challenging situations.

trying restraint

Highlights the challenging nature of maintaining control or patience.

difficult acceptance

Emphasizes the struggle involved in accepting a negative situation.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "terrible patience"?

Use "terrible patience" to describe a situation where someone maintains composure despite facing extreme difficulties or provocations, suggesting that their patience is tested to its limits.

What are some alternatives to "terrible patience"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "extreme forbearance", "remarkable tolerance", or "extraordinary long-suffering".

Is "terrible patience" grammatically correct?

Yes, "terrible patience" is grammatically correct as it combines an adjective ("terrible") with a noun ("patience") in a standard English construction.

Does "terrible patience" have a negative connotation?

Yes, "terrible patience" often carries a negative connotation because it suggests that the patience is being tested by something awful or unbearable. It implies a degree of suffering or frustration.