thinly dressed

USAGE SUMMARY

"thinly dressed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who is wearing minimal or light clothing, such as during a warm day in summer. For example, "The street was full of people, some in shorts and t-shirts and others thinly dressed in skirts and tank tops."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Mr. Parker was one of several neighbors who said that he had seen Kyle out in the cold, thinly dressed.

The New York Times

Both an heirloom beet salad and a duck with pear salad were thinly dressed, and it was tempting to pick out the treats and ignore the tangle of frisée and endive.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Italian salads are often just a single raw or cooked vegetable, sliced thinly and dressed with a drizzle of vinegar and olive oil.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But the easiest and perhaps best preparation is to slice it thinly and dress it lightly.

The New York Times - Food

"Egotism" was a word Vladimir Putin used more than once as he gave a thinly veiled dressing down to the United States on Monday.

The Guardian

Not too far away in the Marais, at a bread stand inside the Marché des Enfants Rouges, the Cornet Vegetarien — a sandwich of fresh greens, grated carrots and fennel, marinated onions and thinly sliced avocado, dressed with olive oil and honey and dusted with chives and lime zest — was like nothing I'd ever eaten.

The New York Times - Travel

As for the little courgette-ettes that follow the flowers, these are so tender I often eat them raw, thinly sliced and dressed with olive oil and lemon juice, and sprinkled with a few herbs such as basil, thyme or parsley.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"I could only stomach so much thinly-veiled hatred dressed up as patriotism.

Vice

A pleasant endive-pear salad featured a layer of translucently thin pear slices topped with thinly sliced endive and dressed with a good lemony vinaigrette.

The New York Times

A journalist from Silvio Berlusconi's Italia Uno channel secretly filmed a meal at which the centrepiece was a salad dressed with thinly sliced flakes of dried dolphin fillet.

The Guardian

For me, the most delicious thing to eat in Rome is puntarelle - thinly sliced chicory shoots dressed with anchovies, garlic and red wine vinegar - which we have in our cookbook.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "thinly dressed", ensure the context makes it clear whether you are referring to a lack of clothing due to weather conditions or choice.

Common error

Avoid using "thinly dressed" when you intend to describe the style or quality of clothing, as it primarily refers to the amount of clothing worn. For example, instead of "He was thinly dressed for the occasion", consider "He was inappropriately dressed for the occasion".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thinly dressed" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun, typically a person, to describe their state of wearing minimal clothing. Ludwig examples showcase this in contexts where the amount of clothing is noteworthy.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "thinly dressed" is a grammatically sound adjectival phrase used to describe someone wearing minimal clothing. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is correct and usable in written English. While its frequency is rare, the phrase appears mainly in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, consider the context and audience to ensure appropriateness. Alternative phrases like "scantily clad" or "lightly dressed" may be suitable depending on the desired tone and connotation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

barely dressed

Highlights just how little someone is wearing.

hardly dressed

A stronger emphasis is put on the notion that there is next to nothing on.

scarcely dressed

Highlights that there is very little covering someone's body.

little dressed

Emphasizes the lack of clothing, a more direct way of phrasing it.

sparingly dressed

Highlights the minimal nature of the clothing.

modestly dressed

Indicates a lesser degree of exposure compared to "thinly dressed".

loosely dressed

Suggests the clothing is not fitted or tight, implying less coverage.

ill dressed

Focuses on the poor quality or inappropriateness of the attire.

thinly disguised

Shifts the meaning to something being barely concealed rather than clothing.

rarely dressed

Emphasizes how infrequent one would wear these clothes.

FAQs

How can I use "thinly dressed" in a sentence?

You can use "thinly dressed" to describe someone wearing very little clothing. For example: "The child was "thinly dressed" for the cold weather."

What's a more formal way to say "thinly dressed"?

A more formal alternative could be "scantily clad", though this phrase often carries a different connotation.

Is it appropriate to use "thinly dressed" in professional writing?

While grammatically correct, "thinly dressed" may not always be appropriate for professional writing, especially if the context is sensitive. Consider the tone and audience, and opt for a more neutral description if necessary.

What is the difference between ""thinly dressed"" and "lightly dressed"?

"Lightly dressed" implies wearing light clothing appropriate for the weather, while ""thinly dressed"" suggests wearing insufficient clothing, potentially leading to discomfort or inappropriateness.