terribly brilliant

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "terribly brilliant" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is impressively clever or innovative, often with a hint of irony or contradiction. Example: "The artist's latest work is terribly brilliant, challenging conventional norms while captivating the audience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Terribly bright".

Independent

But Christopher Columbus was in the first place a terribly interesting man — brilliant, audacious, volatile, paranoid, narcissistic, ruthless and (in the end) deeply unhappy.

The New York Times - Books

Her favourite film her mother has been in is Roman Polanski's London-set Repulsion and of her father's films she likes Divorce Italian Style and What Time Is It?, which he made with Massimo Troisi, playing his son – "It's just so terribly sad and brilliant".

The Guardian - Film

The terribly fashionable and brilliant Cold Cave are headlining, with Talons and Eve Black/Eve White supporting.

Vice

Is painting the animals a brilliant idea or terribly depressing?

Huffington Post

This is a shocking and brilliant work, at once terribly pertinent and impressively universal.

The Guardian - Books

Then try to find a copy of Trevor Burnard, Mastery, Tyranny, and Desire (University of North Carolina Press), a brilliant discussion of the terribly frank diary of Thomas Thistlewood, a slave owner in 18th-century Jamaica.

The Guardian - Books

Peter Pabst's brilliant set might be a terribly chic 1970s Los Angeles house, the hall of a mental asylum, a metaphorical space bordered by water, jungle and desert.

The New York Times - Arts

But we wanted to show a character who's brilliant, immensely curious and yet terribly awkward with people.

TechCrunch

The guide was showing a group the tiny door the queen escaped through and explaining how horrible but brilliant she was and how terribly she died but how she possibly deserved it.

Huffington Post

It is not terribly surprising if politicians seeking to promote the latest brilliant idea from Brussels now get a fairly cool reception.Criticism of the economic policies promoted by Brussels may be unsurprising but is it fair?

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "terribly brilliant" when you want to express a strong degree of brilliance, often with a hint of irony or playful exaggeration. It's suitable for informal contexts or when adding a touch of personality to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "terribly brilliant" in highly formal or academic writing. While grammatically correct, the phrase's slightly informal tone might not be appropriate for serious or scholarly contexts. Opt for more neutral alternatives like "exceptionally brilliant" or "remarkably insightful".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "terribly brilliant" functions as an adjective phrase used to modify a noun, expressing a high degree of intelligence or ingenuity. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "terribly brilliant" is a valid and usable adjective phrase to express a high degree of intelligence or ingenuity. While grammatically sound and acceptable for use, it's important to consider the context, as it leans towards the informal side and is most frequently found in news and media sources. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct to use, while alternatives like "exceptionally brilliant" or "remarkably brilliant" may be more suitable for formal settings. Its playful tone makes it a great fit for adding personality to writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exceptionally brilliant

Replaces "terribly" with "exceptionally" to emphasize the high degree of brilliance.

remarkably brilliant

Substitutes "terribly" with "remarkably" to highlight the noteworthiness of the brilliance.

extraordinarily brilliant

Uses "extraordinarily" instead of "terribly" to stress the unusual nature of the brilliance.

incredibly brilliant

Replaces "terribly" with "incredibly" to convey a sense of disbelief at the brilliance.

awfully brilliant

Mirrors the structure of the original phrase using "awfully" as an intensifier.

exceedingly clever

Replaces "brilliant" with "clever" and "terribly" with "exceedingly", focusing on intelligence.

strikingly ingenious

Substitutes both words to emphasize the inventiveness and impact of the brilliance.

highly intelligent

A more straightforward alternative, focusing on the intellectual aspect.

frightfully clever

Employs "frightfully" as an intensifier, maintaining a similar tone to "terribly".

uncommonly astute

Replaces both words to highlight sharpness and intelligence in an unusual way.

FAQs

How can I use "terribly brilliant" in a sentence?

You can use "terribly brilliant" to describe something that is both extremely clever and impressive. For example, "Her solution to the problem was "terribly brilliant", exceeding all expectations".

What are some alternatives to "terribly brilliant"?

Alternatives include "exceptionally brilliant", "remarkably brilliant", or "extraordinarily brilliant", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "terribly brilliant" formal or informal?

"Terribly brilliant" leans towards the informal side due to the intensifying adverb "terribly", which can sometimes sound colloquial. For formal settings, consider more neutral options.

Can "terribly brilliant" be used sarcastically?

Yes, depending on the tone and context. Like other phrases with strong intensifiers, "terribly brilliant" can be used sarcastically to imply the opposite meaning. The surrounding context should make your intention clear.