what a disgrace

USAGE SUMMARY

"what a disgrace" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used to express strong disapproval or disappointment about something. Example: "I can't believe he cheated on his wife, what a disgrace!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Opinion

Social Commentary

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

"What a disgrace!

The Guardian

"What a disgrace!" shouted the headline.

The New York Times

What a disgrace for an otherwise great paper.

The New Yorker

"What a disgrace!" one man from the crowd shouted.

The New York Times

What a disgrace that it took a tragedy to prompt that realization.

The Washington Post

"What a disgrace really that today you're asking us the same question, because we've failed to meet our aspirations".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

What an absolute disgrace – a disgrace from the same manager who was loaned Jon Macken and Lewin Nyatanga [by Davies, when he was manager of Derby] last season.

The Guardian - Sport

"They say we're kind of a disgrace, or what a shame is to have a celebration for a traitor," Kristy Heitzman, a director of the chamber of commerce, told reporters.

The Guardian

That in his tricksiest novel, Time's Arrow (the only one of his works to be shortlisted for the Booker – what a national disgrace that is) is itself rather too tricksy for my taste: I moved forward, out of my blackest sleep, to find myself surrounded by doctors … American doctors.

The Guardian - Books

Oh, what a fucking disgrace.' And everyone's like, 'I don't care, he can do whatever he wants.' I'm serious.

Vice

Brown continued: "Bury have gone above us, that's what's a disgrace about it.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "what a disgrace" to express strong disapproval or disappointment about a situation or action. Ensure the context clearly warrants such a strong reaction for maximum impact.

Common error

Avoid using "what a disgrace" in situations that only warrant mild disappointment or disagreement. Overusing strong language can diminish its impact when used in more serious contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what a disgrace" functions as an exclamatory expression to convey strong disapproval, disappointment, or moral outrage. Ludwig AI confirms it's a correct and commonly used phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Opinion

30%

Social Commentary

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "what a disgrace" is a phrase used to express strong disapproval or disappointment, as verified by Ludwig AI. It is commonly used in news, opinion pieces, and social commentary. While grammatically correct, it's important to use this phrase judiciously, reserving it for situations that genuinely warrant a strong negative sentiment. Alternatives like "what a shame" or "what a pity" may be more appropriate for milder situations. The phrase maintains a neutral register and is widely understood, but careful selection ensures its impact is not diluted through overuse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

It's a disgrace

A shorter, more direct expression of the same sentiment.

What a shame

Expresses disappointment or regret, but is less forceful than the query.

What a pity

Similar to "what a shame", indicating mild disappointment.

That's outrageous

Conveys a sense of moral indignation and shock.

How appalling

Emphasizes the shocking and offensive nature of something.

It's scandalous

Highlights the morally offensive and damaging aspect of an event or action.

It's unacceptable

Focuses on the violation of standards or principles.

That's deplorable

Indicates strong disapproval and condemnation.

What a travesty

Emphasizes the distorted or misrepresented nature of something.

It's beyond the pale

Indicates that something is completely unacceptable and outside the bounds of decency.

FAQs

How can I use "what a disgrace" in a sentence?

You can use "what a disgrace" to express strong disapproval or disappointment. For example, "The fact that they lied about their qualifications is "what a disgrace"!"

What's a less intense alternative to "what a disgrace"?

If you want to express mild disapproval or disappointment, you can use phrases like "what a shame" or "what a pity".

When is it appropriate to use "what a disgrace"?

"What a disgrace" is appropriate when you want to convey a strong negative sentiment about something considered morally wrong, deeply disappointing, or shocking.

Is "what a disgrace" formal or informal?

"What a disgrace" is generally considered neutral in formality, suitable for both informal conversations and more formal writing when a strong expression of disapproval is needed.