undesirable possibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "undesirable possibility" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a situation or outcome that is not wanted or is unfavorable. Example: "The team is working hard to mitigate any undesirable possibility that could affect the project's success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Joe Dumars' decision to sign Rodney Stuckey to a three-year, $25.5 million contract shortly after drafting Brandon Knight registered as a bit curious, if not altogether regrettable; with no need to compete immediately, the idea that Knight's playing time might be curtailed seemed like an undesirable possibility.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Already many columnists are hinting at the possibility of "undesirable developments" in northern Iraq in an attempt to influence the public and bewildered members of parliament.

The Guardian

They even issued a "Ten Commandments for Choosing a Mate" that advised against marrying a person with an undesirable characteristic, or the possibility of inheriting one: "Never marry the one good person from a bad family".

The New York Times

In this study we explored the possibility of undesirable contamination of the KHFAC waveforms by direct current (DC).

Journal of Neuroscience Methods

By this point there are fewer options to control the population, and the level of resources required, and the possibility for undesirable side effects on other ecosystem components, are usually prohibitive.

Environmental Sciences Europe

In addition to the possibility of undesirable fungi, Pinus spp. are known to contain a wide diversity of fungal endophytes (Deckert and Peterson 2000; Ganley and Newcombe 2006) and total sequencing approaches indicate the number of unculturable fungi present may exceed initial diversity estimates (Fröhlich and Hyde 1999; Hawksworth 2001).

New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science

Inequality issue: A main concern is the possibility of undesirable distribution repercussions because of the diversity of road users.

Wikipedia

Importantly, inhibiting mitosis-specific mechanisms will diminish the possibility of undesirable side effects as seen in taxol treatment.

Chromosoma

The sources of such enzymes should be selected with great care to prevent any possibility of undesirable contamination by incompatible material and also to enable ready purification.

BioMed Research International

The fact that a period of 2 3 weeks is required before any effect can be observed must be explained to the patient who must also be alerted to the possibility of undesirable side effects.

European Journal of Cancer, Supplement

From there, the differentiation of the new elite cultivars will be determined by small-effect QTLs that can be affected by the environment, leading to the possibility of undesirable variability of these cultivars in different environments.

Horticulture Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "undesirable possibility" when you want to acknowledge that something negative could occur, but you're not necessarily predicting it will. It's suitable for scenarios requiring careful consideration of potential downsides.

Common error

Avoid using "undesirable possibility" when the negative outcome is highly probable. In such cases, a stronger phrase like "inevitable consequence" or "likely pitfall" would be more accurate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "undesirable possibility" functions as a noun phrase, where "undesirable" modifies the noun "possibility". It identifies a potential situation or outcome that is not wanted or favored. Ludwig AI confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "undesirable possibility" denotes a potential occurrence that is unwelcome or unfavorable. Ludwig AI confirms the expression is valid. Grammatically sound, it functions as a noun phrase expressing concern about potential negative outcomes. While relatively rare in overall usage, it appears in both news and scientific contexts. Alternatives such as "unpleasant possibility" or "negative potential" can be used depending on the specific nuance desired. When writing, ensure that the likelihood of the event matches the strength of the phrase; if the outcome is highly probable, consider using stronger language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unpleasant possibility

Replaces "undesirable" with a more general term for something not enjoyable.

unwelcome possibility

Emphasizes the unwelcomeness of the potential event.

unfavorable prospect

Substitutes "possibility" with "prospect", suggesting a consideration of potential outcomes.

negative potential

Focuses on the negative aspect of what could happen.

undesired outcome

Shifts from a potential event to the result itself, if it were to occur.

adverse consequence

Highlights the negative consequences that might arise.

risky proposition

Implies that the situation involves potential risks and negative results.

worrisome eventuality

Conveys a sense of concern about a possible future occurrence.

troubling scenario

Suggests a specific situation that is a cause for concern.

detrimental contingency

More formally expresses a dependence on conditions that could be harmful.

FAQs

How can I use "undesirable possibility" in a sentence?

You can use "undesirable possibility" to describe a potential outcome that is not wanted or is unfavorable. For example, "The company is taking measures to mitigate any "unwelcome possibility" that could affect its financial stability."

What are some alternatives to saying "undesirable possibility"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "unpleasant possibility", "unfavorable prospect", or "negative potential".

Is "undesirable possibility" formal or informal?

"Undesirable possibility" is generally considered neutral to formal. It is suitable for use in professional, academic, and news contexts.

What is the difference between "undesirable possibility" and "unwanted outcome"?

"Undesirable possibility" refers to a potential event that is not wanted, while "unwanted outcome" refers to the actual result of an event that has already occurred. The first focuses on something potential, the latter is on something already happened.