unacceptably severe

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unacceptably severe" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation, condition, or action that is excessively harsh or extreme, beyond what is considered acceptable. Example: "The penalties imposed on the students for minor infractions were deemed unacceptably severe by the school board."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Response >2.0 indicates unacceptably severe normal tissue reaction (Pandey et al, 1991).

British Journal of Cancer

The morbidity to the upper eyelid becomes unacceptably severe, however, for surgery that involves replacing loss of substance exceeding a quarter to a third of the total length of the eyelid [ 5].

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The authorities said working conditions were "unacceptably dangerous".

BBC

Several large randomized controlled trials were stopped due to unacceptably high rates of severe hypoglycemia (blood glucose (BG) <2.2 mmol/L), 9.8% of patients in the Glucontrol study [ 9] and 17.0% of the tight control group in the Efficacy of Volume Substitution and Insulin Therapy in Severe Sepsis (VISEP) study [ 10].

Critical Care

Justice Suarez stated in his decision, which was made on Friday, that the current rate "created a severe and unacceptably high risk that children and indigent adults will not receive meaningful and effective legal representation".

The New York Times

At present, the mortality rate of severe ARDS remains unacceptably high, in the range of 30 to 40% [6],[7].

Annals of Intensive Care

Drugs of another class, the antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as Prozac, take weeks to kick in, unacceptably long for someone suffering severe anxiety.

Science Magazine

Case fatality rates for severe malaria remain unacceptably high even after effective anti-malarial drugs are administered [3].

Plosone

In the developing countries the unacceptably high maternal mortality overshadows severe maternal morbidity.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

At present, the mortality rate of severe ARDS remains unacceptably high, in the range of 30 to 40% [ 6],[ 7].

Annals of Intensive Care

With a pooled sensitivity of 57%, the ATS-IDSA 2007 minor criteria would fail to identify almost one half of the patients with severe CAP, an unacceptably high proportion.

Critical Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "unacceptably severe", ensure the context clearly establishes the standard against which the severity is being judged. For example, specify whose standards are being violated or what is considered a reasonable level of severity in that particular situation.

Common error

Avoid using "unacceptably severe" without providing concrete examples or evidence to support the claim. Overusing the phrase can weaken its impact and make your writing seem hyperbolic. Instead, provide specific details to illustrate why something is considered excessively harsh.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unacceptably severe" functions as a compound adjective, modifying a noun to indicate that something is excessively harsh or extreme beyond what is considered tolerable. It is used to express a subjective judgment about the degree of severity. As shown in Ludwig, the phrase indicates a negative evaluation of the intensity or harshness of something.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

67%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "unacceptably severe" is used to describe situations or conditions that are excessively harsh or extreme, exceeding what is considered tolerable. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct and functions as a compound adjective expressing disapproval or criticism. While relatively rare, it appears in both scientific and news contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. To use the phrase effectively, ensure clear justification for the assessment of severity. Alternatives such as "excessively harsh" or "intolerably strict" can offer similar nuances depending on the intended emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excessively harsh

Emphasizes the degree of harshness is beyond what is acceptable.

intolerably strict

Highlights the difficulty in enduring or accepting the level of strictness.

unduly harsh

Focuses on the lack of justification for the severity.

disproportionately strict

Indicates the punishment or measure is not in proportion to the offense.

inappropriately drastic

Suggests the measures taken are not suitable or fitting for the situation.

unjustifiably rigorous

Points out the lack of a valid reason for the intensity or strictness.

unreasonably strict

Highlights the lack of logical basis for the level of strictness.

unacceptably drastic

Focuses on the extreme nature of the actions being beyond what is tolerable.

overly stringent

Emphasizes the excessive nature of the regulations or rules.

unduly punitive

Highlights that the measures are excessively focused on punishment.

FAQs

How can I use "unacceptably severe" in a sentence?

Use "unacceptably severe" to describe something excessively harsh or extreme. For example, "The punishment was "unacceptably severe" considering the minor offense."

What are some alternatives to "unacceptably severe"?

Alternatives include "excessively harsh", "intolerably strict", or "unduly harsh" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

In what context is it appropriate to use "unacceptably severe"?

It is appropriate when describing policies, punishments, or reactions that are considered far too extreme or harsh for the situation. It's often used in discussions about justice, ethics, or when evaluating the appropriateness of a response.

What makes something "unacceptably severe"?

Severity becomes unacceptable when it exceeds the bounds of what is considered fair, ethical, or proportional to the situation. This judgment often depends on cultural norms, legal standards, or ethical considerations.