truly terrible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "truly terrible" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the severity or extent of something negative or unpleasant. Example: "The weather today is truly terrible; I can't believe how much it has rained."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It's truly terrible".

The New York Times

It's a truly terrible sight.

The Guardian

"Terminator Genisys" isn't truly terrible.

The New Yorker

It's a truly terrible road.

The Guardian - Travel

That will be truly terrible.

The Guardian

Dave Kingman is a truly terrible ballplayer.

The New York Times - Sports

For something truly terrible happened in Bosnia.

The New York Times - Magazine

It is a truly terrible democratic deficit.

The Guardian - Books

Instead I saw children with truly terrible injuries.

Independent

The last moments of Hasna Ait Boulahcen were truly terrible.

Independent

Those were truly terrible years for Chelsea and Aimee.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and context when using "truly terrible"; more formal situations may require a more nuanced expression.

Common error

Avoid stacking intensifiers; using phrases like "very truly terrible" can sound redundant and weaken your writing. Choose one strong modifier for maximum impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "truly terrible" functions primarily as an intensifier modifying an adjective. It amplifies the degree to which something is bad or unpleasant. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "truly terrible" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to emphasize the severity of something negative. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions as an intensifier, amplifying the adjective "terrible". It's widely used in news and media to convey strong negative evaluations. While versatile, overuse should be avoided to maintain its impact. Alternatives such as "absolutely awful" or "utterly dreadful" can be employed for variety. Understanding the context and audience is crucial for effective use. Be mindful of stacking intensifiers, as it can weaken the overall message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

absolutely awful

Emphasizes the extremely unpleasant or disagreeable nature of something.

utterly dreadful

Highlights the shocking or appalling quality of something.

genuinely atrocious

Indicates a severe lack of quality or extreme wickedness.

really appalling

Stresses the shocking and unacceptable nature of something.

completely disastrous

Focuses on the catastrophic failure or outcome of something.

exceptionally bad

Emphasizes that something is worse than the average bad quality.

remarkably poor

Highlights how notably deficient something is in quality.

uncommonly wretched

Indicates an unusual degree of misery or poor condition.

particularly lamentable

Stresses how regrettable or unfortunate something is.

singularly unfortunate

Emphasizes the unique and regrettable nature of an event or situation.

FAQs

How can I use "truly terrible" in a sentence?

You can use "truly terrible" to describe something exceptionally bad. For example: "The movie was "truly terrible"; I wouldn't recommend it."

What can I say instead of "truly terrible"?

You can use alternatives like "absolutely awful", "utterly dreadful", or "genuinely atrocious" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "truly terrible"?

Yes, "truly terrible" is grammatically correct. "Truly" is an adverb that modifies the adjective "terrible", indicating a high degree of terribleness.

What is the difference between "terrible" and "truly terrible"?

"Terrible" describes something bad or unpleasant. "Truly terrible" emphasizes that it is exceptionally bad or unpleasant, intensifying the negative sentiment.