terribly beautiful

USAGE SUMMARY

"terribly beautiful" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an example of an oxymoron, a phrase that uses two contradictory terms to describe something. You can use this phrase to describe a situation or individual that is difficult to process or understand, usually because of the mix of joy and sorrow it is composed of. For example, you could say "The sunset was terribly beautiful - it was as if the horizon was on fire with oranges and pinks, yet the sky was darkening with the coming of night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Or maybe you think of black-clad, ultra-orthodox men throwing rocks or some terribly beautiful, young Israeli vacationers in Thailand or South America, both cocksure and a bit intolerable because of it?

Huffington Post

No, my dear, I tell myself, looking at this bright planet, it was a wild and colorful ride, at times too long, but always too short, life has shown me its unbelievably mean and terribly beautiful face.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It features beautiful, terribly sad songs, sung in Korean, Turkish, and Japanese.

The New Yorker

That voice isn't pretty -- it's just terribly and despicably beautiful.

The New York Times - Books

"It's terribly dry but beautiful," he said as we hit the high desert.

The New York Times - Travel

The western end of the bypass either slices through a very large woodland within the South Downs national park or terribly damages three beautiful villages – Tortington, Binsted and Walberton.

The Guardian

Even more, we human animals are messy, complex, beautiful, terribly weird, filled with stories that ebb and flow like time and water and music and flesh.

Huffington Post

"She was terribly happy with the beautiful weather and the lovely occasion," said plaque organiser Hugo Vickers of the Outdoor Trust.

The Guardian

In 1973 MacCarthy and Mellor had bought Broom Hall in Sheffield, a large part-Tudor, part Georgian building that was "terribly dilapidated but potentially beautiful".

The Guardian

It can also be beautiful and terribly sad, as when one of the men stands apart from the group, staring across the diagonal stretch of the stage as if it were an unfathomable distance to cross.

The New York Times - Arts

"Marabou" can't be to everyone's taste, but it seems to me a beautiful and terribly sad story — the more powerful because its facts are so fragile and unexplained.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "terribly beautiful" to describe something that evokes strong, mixed emotions, where the beauty is inseparable from a sense of sadness or unease. It's particularly effective in literary or descriptive writing to convey complexity.

Common error

While "terribly beautiful" can be effective, avoid using it excessively. Overusing intensifiers can weaken your writing and make it sound less sincere. Choose strong nouns and verbs instead to convey the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "terribly beautiful" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, modifying a noun to express a quality that combines beauty with a sense of something negative or overwhelming. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "terribly beautiful" is a grammatically correct adjective phrase used to describe something that possesses beauty intertwined with a sense of unease or sadness. Ludwig AI confirms it's a valid oxymoron. While rare in usage, it's found primarily in news and media sources. Related phrases include "exceptionally beautiful" and "bittersweet beauty", offering alternative ways to express similar sentiments. When using this phrase, be mindful of overusing intensifiers and strive for balanced, impactful writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exceptionally beautiful

Emphasizes the high degree of beauty, replacing "terribly" with a more straightforward intensifier.

exceedingly beautiful

Similar to "exceptionally beautiful", but with a slightly more formal tone.

strikingly beautiful

Highlights the impactful and noticeable nature of the beauty.

remarkably beautiful

Emphasizes the unusual or noteworthy aspect of the beauty.

extraordinarily beautiful

Similar to "exceptionally beautiful" but with a greater sense of scale or grandeur.

incredibly beautiful

Uses a more modern and informal intensifier than "terribly".

stunningly beautiful

Focuses on the overwhelming and captivating effect of the beauty.

awfully beautiful

Mirrors the oxymoronic structure of the original, but with a different intensifier.

bittersweet beauty

Implies beauty tinged with sadness or regret.

tragically beautiful

Emphasizes the sorrowful aspect of the beauty, often associated with loss or suffering.

FAQs

How can "terribly beautiful" be used in a sentence?

You can use "terribly beautiful" to describe something that possesses both beauty and a sense of sadness or tragedy. For example, "The old photograph was terribly beautiful, a reminder of a time long gone".

What are some alternatives to saying "terribly beautiful"?

You can use alternatives like "exceptionally beautiful", "strikingly beautiful", or "bittersweet beauty" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "terribly beautiful" an oxymoron?

"Terribly beautiful" can be considered an oxymoron because "terribly" usually implies something negative or bad, while "beautiful" is positive. This creates a contrast that makes the phrase more impactful.

What is the difference between "terribly beautiful" and "tragically beautiful"?

"Terribly beautiful" implies a strong contrast between beauty and something negative, while "tragically beautiful" specifically links the beauty to a sense of tragedy or loss. "Tragically beautiful" is a more specific and direct connection to sorrow.