that was outrageous

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that was outrageous" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express strong disapproval or shock regarding a situation or behavior that you find unacceptable or extreme. Example: "When I heard about the unfair treatment of the employees, I thought to myself, that was outrageous."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

By today's standards that was outrageous treatment.

The Economist

"We did a market study and we didn't do anything that was outrageous," he said.

The New York Times

In 1908 that territory had been formally annexed to Austria–Hungary, in a manner that was outrageous not only to Serbia (which coveted Bosnia for itself) but also to Serbia's patron, Russia.

Encyclopedia Britannica

There was a lot that was outrageous about buying them at the time.

Forbes

When the Lampoon was great it was great, and there was an intelligence behind all the cock and cum humor that was outrageous and maybe offensive but also smarter than the outrageous and offensive stuff that makes up every second of everyday life.

Vice

That was outrageous.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Forget it, I replied, that's outrageous.

The New York Times

"Oh my gosh, that's outrageous".

The New Yorker

It's an artificial distinction that's outrageous".

The New York Times

There's plenty that's outrageous but not necessarily funny.

The New Yorker

He espouses values and beliefs that are outrageous.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that was outrageous" to express strong disapproval or shock at something considered morally wrong or unacceptable. Ensure the context clearly establishes why the action is seen as outrageous.

Common error

Avoid using "that was outrageous" for minor inconveniences or disagreements. Save it for genuinely shocking or morally offensive situations to maintain its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that was outrageous" functions as an evaluative statement, expressing a strong negative judgment about a past action or event. It's used to convey feelings of shock, indignation, or moral outrage. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "that was outrageous" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression for conveying strong disapproval or shock, as affirmed by Ludwig. It's particularly prevalent in News & Media and Academia, reflecting its suitability for both formal and informal contexts. While effective for expressing strong negative feelings, it's crucial to reserve it for genuinely shocking situations to avoid diluting its impact. Consider alternatives like "that was unacceptable" or "that was appalling" for less severe situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that was unacceptable

Replaces 'outrageous' with a more moderate term indicating something is not permissible.

that was appalling

Uses a word that suggests a shocking and deeply unpleasant experience.

that was scandalous

Indicates that the event or action caused public outrage and moral shock.

that was completely unjustified

Focuses on the lack of legitimate reasons for the action.

that was beyond the pale

Emphasizes that the action was outside the bounds of acceptable behavior.

that was simply not on

British English idiom indicating something is unacceptable or inappropriate.

that was morally reprehensible

Highlights the ethical wrongness of the action.

that was wholly inappropriate

Emphasizes the unsuitability of the action in the given context.

that was a travesty

Suggests that the event is a distorted or debased representation of something.

that was utterly indefensible

Highlights that there is no valid argument to justify the action.

FAQs

How can I use "that was outrageous" in a sentence?

Use "that was outrageous" to express strong disapproval or shock when describing something considered morally wrong or unacceptable. For example: "When I heard about the unfair treatment of the employees, I thought to myself, that was outrageous."

What can I say instead of "that was outrageous"?

You can use alternatives like "that was unacceptable", "that was appalling", or "that was scandalous" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "that was outrageous" or "this is outrageous"?

Both are correct but used in different contexts. "That was outrageous" refers to something that happened in the past, while "this is outrageous" refers to something happening now or a general situation.

What is the difference between "that was outrageous" and "that was disappointing"?

"That was outrageous" expresses strong moral disapproval or shock, implying the action was deeply wrong. "That was disappointing", on the other hand, expresses sadness or regret that something didn't meet expectations but doesn't necessarily imply a moral failing.