thoroughly unpleasant

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thoroughly unpleasant" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is very disagreeable or distasteful in a strong manner. Example: "The weather during our vacation was thoroughly unpleasant, with constant rain and cold temperatures."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

The new film, according to Washington Post critic Ann Hornaday, is "a largely turgid, often thoroughly unpleasant affair". Savvy moviegoers certainly expect some amount of unpleasantness — that sensation being par for the course whenever egg-laying parasites are involved.

The Washington Post

Ukrainian nationalism has a thoroughly unpleasant far-right fringe.

The Economist

"He was a thoroughly unpleasant guy," David Crosby recently opined.

The Guardian

To hammer home that point, he offered a flock of statements, all thoroughly unpleasant.

The New York Times

Despite this thoroughly unpleasant side-effect of popularity, it is still a city to behold.

The Guardian - Travel

Billy's bullying, thoroughly unpleasant father, Austin is the play's most enigmatic character.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

Empty spaces can usually be found in any of the differing climates, but try to avoid the more densely populated areas if you haven't been thoroughly vaccinated or find the odour of human sweat unpleasant.

The Guardian

"Whitney," on the other hand, is thoroughly modern: Ms. Cummings's character is bracingly whiny and unpleasant.

The New York Times - Arts

We regret that this passenger had an unpleasant experience and are in the process of thoroughly reviewing the circumstances.

Huffington Post

It is essential to sterilize everything thoroughly, in order to avoid infections, which are painful, look unpleasant and may force you to remove the piercing.

WikiHow

Clean the coffee maker thoroughly after use so that the next guest doesn't get an unpleasant surprise!

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "thoroughly unpleasant" to express a strong sense of dislike or disapproval. It's more impactful than simply saying something is "unpleasant".

Common error

While "thoroughly unpleasant" is effective, avoid using it too frequently in your writing. Vary your vocabulary with synonyms like "utterly disagreeable" or "extremely distasteful" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thoroughly unpleasant" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to express a strong degree of dislike or disapproval. It intensifies the negative quality of something, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "thoroughly unpleasant" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adjective phrase to express a strong sense of dislike or disapproval. According to Ludwig, its usage is considered correct and very common, especially in news and media contexts. The phrase serves to intensify the adjective "unpleasant", making it a more emphatic way to express negative feelings or judgments. While versatile, it's advisable to avoid overuse by incorporating similar phrases like "utterly disagreeable" or "extremely distasteful" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utterly disagreeable

Emphasizes the complete and absolute nature of the unpleasantness, similar to "thoroughly".

thoroughly awful

Simplifies "unpleasant" to the more colloquial "awful" while retaining the emphasis of "thoroughly".

extremely distasteful

Focuses on the offensive or repulsive nature of something, similar to "unpleasant".

absolutely awful

Conveys a strong sense of negativity and poor quality.

wholly undesirable

Highlights the unwanted and unwelcome nature of something.

decidedly disagreeable

Indicates a clear and definite sense of unpleasantness.

intensely displeasing

Emphasizes the strong negative emotional impact of something.

completely objectionable

Focuses on the unacceptable or offensive nature of something.

entirely unsatisfactory

Highlights the failure to meet expectations or requirements.

exceptionally irritating

Focuses on the annoyance and frustration caused by something.

FAQs

How can I use "thoroughly unpleasant" in a sentence?

"Thoroughly unpleasant" is used to describe something that is extremely disagreeable or distasteful. For example, "The experience was "thoroughly unpleasant", and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone".

What can I say instead of "thoroughly unpleasant"?

You can use alternatives like "utterly disagreeable", "extremely distasteful", or "absolutely awful" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "thoroughly unpleasant"?

Yes, "thoroughly unpleasant" is grammatically correct. "Thoroughly" is an adverb that modifies the adjective "unpleasant", creating a stronger emphasis.

What's the difference between "unpleasant" and "thoroughly unpleasant"?

"Unpleasant" describes something that is not enjoyable or agreeable. "Thoroughly unpleasant" intensifies this, indicating that something is extremely disagreeable or distasteful. It's a matter of degree.