that sounds dreadful

USAGE SUMMARY

"that sounds dreadful" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to express disapproval or a negative opinion about something. Example: "I heard about your upcoming business trip to Siberia. That sounds dreadful. The weather must be freezing and the flights must be long and tiring."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"Anti-epileptics, that sounds dreadful.

BMC Family Practice

That sounds dreadful.

The New Yorker

The movie's CinemaScore ― data compiled from opening-night reactions ― is an F. That sounds dreadful on paper, but it actually signals an interesting effect.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

He accompanied his comments the other day with fits of coughing that sounded dreadful over the telephone.

The New York Times - Sports

The area given over to coffee quadrupled between 1970 and 1995, but the planting of qat increased more than tenfold, using up huge amounts of land and water.In this section Chewing through a Yemeni afternoon Angola facing war and hunger Rocks that kill Time to leave the insecurity zone ReprintsAll this sounds dreadful.

The Economist

The area given over to coffee quadrupled between 1970 and 1995, but the planting of qat increased more than tenfold, using up huge amounts of land and water.In this section Chewing through a Yemeni afternoon Angola facing war and hunger Rocks that kill Time to leave the insecurity zone Reprints Related topics YemenAll this sounds dreadful.

The Economist

(Female participant (KA5), Kalgoorlie)" ""… it took me a long time, probably 18 months, which sounds dreadful, to find a GP that would listen and knew that you were real, because you know, pain is very difficult to pinpoint".

BMC Health Services Research

Sounds dreadful, but is actually delicious: it's just a shame that when photographed, they have a tendency to look like malevolent alien birth pods.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Sounds dreadful, right?

The Guardian

It sounds dreadful and thinking about it now, maybe it is.

The Guardian

This "living for the moment", which the Pirahã enjoy (they think Western life sounds dreadful), shapes their language.That different cultures have different words is unsurprising.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that sounds dreadful" when you want to express a strong negative reaction or disapproval to something you've heard. Be mindful of your audience and the context, as it can come across as quite strong.

Common error

Avoid overusing "that sounds dreadful", as frequent repetition can make your speech sound overly negative or dramatic. Vary your expressions with alternatives like "that sounds unpleasant" or "that sounds concerning" to maintain a more balanced tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that sounds dreadful" functions as an evaluative expression. It provides a negative assessment of something that has been described or proposed, indicating disapproval or concern. Ludwig's examples confirm its usage in reacting to news or potential situations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

24%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that sounds dreadful" is a grammatically correct and usable expression for conveying strong disapproval or a negative reaction, according to Ludwig AI. While generally neutral in register, it can be used in various contexts, most commonly in news and media. To avoid overuse, consider alternatives like "that sounds terrible" or "that sounds awful". Remember to tailor your language to the specific context and audience to ensure effective communication. Its primary function is to express negative sentiment. It appears across a range of authoritative sources, including The Guardian and The New York Times, albeit with relatively uncommon frequency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that sounds terrible

Replaces "dreadful" with "terrible", offering a more common synonym for expressing strong disapproval.

that sounds awful

Substitutes "dreadful" with "awful", providing a widely used alternative to express dislike or negativity.

that sounds horrible

Replaces "dreadful" with "horrible", intensifying the negative sentiment conveyed by the phrase.

that sounds unpleasant

Uses "unpleasant" instead of "dreadful", softening the expression of negativity to indicate something disagreeable.

that sounds unappealing

Changes "dreadful" to "unappealing", focusing on the lack of attractiveness or desirability.

that sounds discouraging

Replaces "dreadful" with "discouraging", highlighting the disheartening or demotivating aspect of the situation.

that sounds alarming

Substitutes "dreadful" with "alarming", indicating a sense of worry or potential danger.

that sounds ominous

Replaces "dreadful" with "ominous", suggesting a feeling of foreboding or impending misfortune.

that sounds grim

Changes "dreadful" to "grim", highlighting the bleak and cheerless nature of the situation.

that sounds bleak

Uses "bleak" instead of "dreadful", emphasizing the lack of hope or positive prospects.

FAQs

What's a less harsh way to say "that sounds dreadful"?

You could say "that sounds unpleasant", "that doesn't sound ideal", or "that sounds less than perfect" as softer alternatives.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "that sounds dreadful"?

Use it when you want to express a strong feeling of disapproval, dislike, or concern about something you've just heard, but be aware of the social context to avoid causing offense.

Are there any formal alternatives to "that sounds dreadful"?

In more formal contexts, consider saying "that presents a challenge", "that's not entirely favorable", or "that gives cause for concern".

How does "that sounds dreadful" compare to "that sounds bad"?

"That sounds bad" is a more general expression of negativity. "That sounds dreadful" implies a stronger, more intense feeling of aversion or worry. You can find similar expressions on Ludwig, such as "that sounds awful" or "that sounds terrible".