very much outnumbered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "very much outnumbered" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where one group is significantly fewer in number compared to another group. Example: "In the final moments of the game, our team was very much outnumbered by the opposing players, making it difficult to defend our goal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"We were very much outnumbered.

Independent

As the Republican retreat on the shutdown demonstrated, Mr. Cruz and Mr. Lee are very much outnumbered in the Senate.

The New York Times

Very much outnumbered, they had been shoved, hit and kicked, and had evidently been in real peril until the shopkeeper gave them refuge.

The New Yorker

This group is still very much outnumbered by the Money Party.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"I think we're pretty much outnumbered about 10 to 1 male coaches to female coaches on the performance side of the game and it's something I'd very much like to try to rectify, so that is another part of my role beyond the Fed Cup is to try to help develop a female coaching workforce".

BBC

"Very, very much.

The New Yorker

Thank you very, very much".

Independent

Perhaps not very much.

The New York Times

Really very much appreciated".

Independent

It hurts very much".

The New York Times

Very much like this.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "very much outnumbered" to clearly and emphatically convey a significant numerical disadvantage in a situation. It is particularly effective when emphasizing the difficulty or imbalance caused by the disparity in numbers.

Common error

Avoid using "very much" excessively in your writing. While "very much outnumbered" is a valid construction, relying too heavily on "very much" can make your writing sound repetitive or less impactful. Consider using stronger adverbs or adjectives to convey emphasis more effectively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "very much outnumbered" functions as an adjectival phrase, where "very much" intensifies the adjective "outnumbered." As Ludwig AI indicates, it is a correct and usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "very much outnumbered" is a grammatically correct adjectival phrase used to emphasize a significant numerical disadvantage. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in written English. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts, where it serves to highlight imbalances in numbers in situations such as conflicts or competitions. While less frequent than alternatives like "greatly outnumbered", it effectively conveys a sense of being overwhelmingly outnumbered.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

greatly outnumbered

Emphasizes the large difference in numbers.

significantly outnumbered

Highlights the substantial disparity in numbers.

vastly outnumbered

Indicates a huge numerical disadvantage.

heavily outnumbered

Focuses on the weight or impact of the numerical difference.

outnumbered by a large margin

More descriptive, specifying the extent of the difference.

hopelessly outnumbered

Adds a sense of futility due to the numerical disadvantage.

substantially outnumbered

Similar to significantly, but perhaps a bit more formal.

decisively outnumbered

Suggests that the numbers difference is a deciding factor.

severely outnumbered

Emphasizes the intensity of being outnumbered.

markedly outnumbered

Highlights that the difference in numbers is easily noticeable.

FAQs

How can I use "very much outnumbered" in a sentence?

You can use "very much outnumbered" to describe situations where one group is significantly fewer in number than another. For example: "The protesters were "very much outnumbered" by the police force."

What are some alternatives to saying "very much outnumbered"?

Alternatives include "greatly outnumbered", "significantly outnumbered", or "vastly outnumbered". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "very much outnumbered"?

Yes, "very much outnumbered" is grammatically correct. The phrase is an adverbial intensifier ("very much") modifying a past participle used as an adjective ("outnumbered").

In what contexts is "very much outnumbered" most commonly used?

"Very much outnumbered" is often used in contexts involving conflict, sports, or politics, where numerical advantage or disadvantage is a significant factor. These contexts are frequently reported in "news media".