totally wasted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "totally wasted" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who is extremely exhausted or inebriated. For example: "After a long day of work and errand running, I was totally wasted."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Then the total wasted money being used to produce the totally wasted light is five times that of the mercury: over One Billion Dollars a year!

Harvard University

That is money totally wasted.

Harvard University

"I'm totally wasted already," said the boy.

The New Yorker

The money was not totally wasted.

The New York Times

Therefore, those were two totally wasted spots on Radcliffe's application.

The New York Times

Tynan was a brilliant man, totally wasted as a critic.

The Guardian

Time spent worrying about a foetus is time totally wasted".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The flops Berahino has totally wasted a season.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Jane Fonda is great in general, but The Newsroom is absolutely dreadful and totally wastes her considerable talents.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Even if you are a dedicated Obamanite or Romniac, you're totally wasting your time trying to spin the numbers in your guy's favor: nothing we say here can change the outcome.

The New York Times

In other words, the audience was totally wasting bandwidth.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a state of inebriation, consider the audience and context. "Totally wasted" is generally informal and might not be appropriate in formal or professional settings. Use more formal alternatives, such as "highly intoxicated" or "severely impaired".

Common error

Avoid using "totally wasted" to describe situations where resources are used inefficiently but still yield some positive outcome. The phrase strongly implies complete futility and lack of value. Consider using phrases like "partially ineffective" or "suboptimally utilized" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "totally wasted" functions as an intensifier followed by an adjective, modifying a noun or pronoun to express a state of extreme exhaustion, inebriation, or futility. As per Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and usable in written English. The examples from Ludwig showcase its versatility in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Wiki

33%

Academia

2%

Less common in

Science

15%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "totally wasted" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe a state of extreme exhaustion or inebriation, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While its usage spans multiple contexts, from news articles to casual conversations, it is most frequently encountered in informal settings. When more formal communication is required, alternatives such as "severely fatigued" or "completely ineffective" are preferable. Understanding the connotations and appropriate contexts for "totally wasted" ensures effective and accurate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely exhausted

Emphasizes physical or mental fatigue, lacking the connotation of inebriation.

completely drained

Emphasizes the loss of energy, either physically or emotionally.

utterly inebriated

Focuses specifically on the state of being drunk.

dead tired

A common idiom for extreme tiredness.

absolutely shattered

Highlights a state of extreme exhaustion, often used in British English.

thoroughly wrecked

Indicates severe damage or exhaustion, often with a negative connotation.

thoroughly depleted

Suggests a complete lack of energy or resources.

absolutely wrecked

Highlights a state of complete ruin or dilapidation, either physically or metaphorically

entirely fruitless

Indicates that something was completely unproductive or without result, shifting the meaning from personal state to the result of an action.

hopelessly squandered

Implies that something was wasted in a regrettable way.

FAQs

How can I use "totally wasted" in a sentence?

You can use "totally wasted" to describe someone who is extremely exhausted, as in, "After the marathon, I was totally wasted." It can also describe someone who is heavily intoxicated, as in, "He got totally wasted at the party."

What's a more formal alternative to "totally wasted"?

For formal contexts, consider using phrases like "severely fatigued" or "completely ineffective" instead of "totally wasted", depending on the intended meaning. Other alternatives could be "utterly inebriated", or "thoroughly depleted".

Is it correct to use "totally wasted" in academic writing?

Generally, "totally wasted" is too informal for academic writing. Opt for more precise and formal language, such as "completely ineffective", "entirely unproductive", or "thoroughly exhausted", depending on the specific context.

What does "totally wasted" mean when referring to resources?

When referring to resources, "totally wasted" means that they were used in a way that yielded absolutely no benefit or positive outcome. It implies complete futility and a lack of any return on investment or effort. Consider "entirely fruitless" as another alternative.