wholly absurd

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wholly absurd" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is completely ridiculous or nonsensical. Example: "The idea that we could solve the problem overnight is wholly absurd."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

"Someday all the world will sing my song," Liam sings, and heard live, it doesn't sound a wholly absurd suggestion.

The Guardian - Music

It's not an wholly absurd suggestion but still unrealistic in the light of the two superpowers ahead of the Werkself.

The Guardian - Sport

The possibility that fans will chant Tebow's name during a September game at Gillette Stadium, for instance, is unfathomable, if not wholly absurd.

The New York Times - Sports

A few years ago, the notion that voters in the United States would opt to legalize recreational marijuana seemed wholly absurd.

The Guardian

The outcome, despite everything, is not wholly absurd; there is a distracted magic to its air of ceremony, and visitors to the Met will be gratified to learn that this particular print was owned by Maurice Sendak.

The New Yorker

This claim will strike quite a lot of readers as wholly absurd, as ridiculous as supposing that Earth goes round the sun when any fool can see the sun crossing the heavens several times at least in any English summer.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

It's all absurd.

Independent

On the surface it is absurd or wholly wrong with that, but you take it in this kind of larger context of transgressive or subversive play it doesn't come out as such an issue, and that even takes you to the next step.

TechCrunch

Once an accepted kernel of conventional wisdom, the idea that Trump somehow exists outside the GOP and might therefore be disposed of by the party elite now seems wholly irrelevant, if not absurd.

Vice

How could I explain that my friend was interesting even if his choice of pendant was, agreed, absurd and even wholly condemnable?

The New York Times

Someone needs to sort out who is clumsy and who is absurd, who is semi-serious and who is wholly alarming; the Republican base isn't going to do that on its own.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "wholly absurd" when you want to express that something is not just somewhat absurd, but completely and utterly so. It adds emphasis to your statement.

Common error

While "wholly absurd" is acceptable, be mindful of the tone. In highly formal or academic writing, consider more neutral alternatives like "completely illogical" or "entirely unfounded" to maintain objectivity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wholly absurd" functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun. It intensifies the degree of absurdity, indicating that something is not just absurd, but completely and utterly so. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "wholly absurd" is a grammatically sound and intensifier, signifying that something is entirely ridiculous or nonsensical. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts, used to express strong disagreement or disbelief. While acceptable in various settings, it's important to consider the tone and choose alternatives like "completely nonsensical" or "utterly ridiculous" for more formal or academic writing to maintain objectivity. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, "wholly absurd" is a correct and usable phrase. It appears most often in The Guardian, The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Economist and Forbes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utterly ridiculous

Changes "absurd" to "ridiculous" and "wholly" to "utterly", both intensifying the meaning of implausibility.

completely nonsensical

Replaces "absurd" with "nonsensical" for a focus on lack of meaning; "wholly" becomes "completely".

entirely preposterous

Substitutes "absurd" with "preposterous" to highlight the outrageous nature, and "wholly" with "entirely".

patently ludicrous

Uses "ludicrous" instead of "absurd" to emphasize the laughable quality, replacing "wholly" with "patently".

absolutely foolish

Replaces "absurd" with "foolish" highlighting lack of wisdom; "wholly" changes to "absolutely".

thoroughly unreasonable

Shifts focus to lack of reason with "unreasonable", "thoroughly" replaces "wholly".

perfectly illogical

Focuses on the lack of logic using "illogical"; "perfectly" replaces "wholly".

downright silly

Weakens the intensity slightly by using "silly" instead of "absurd"; "downright" replaces "wholly".

plainly irrational

Emphasizes the lack of rational thought by using "irrational", changing "wholly" to "plainly".

categorically untrue

Shifts meaning towards a definite falsehood with "untrue"; "categorically" replaces "wholly".

FAQs

What does "wholly absurd" mean?

The phrase "wholly absurd" means completely and utterly ridiculous or nonsensical. It emphasizes that something is not just a little bit absurd, but entirely so.

How can I use "wholly absurd" in a sentence?

You can use "wholly absurd" to describe ideas, situations, or claims that you find completely ridiculous. For example, "The suggestion that we could finish the project in a day is "wholly absurd"".

What are some alternatives to "wholly absurd"?

Some alternatives to "wholly absurd" include "utterly ridiculous", "completely nonsensical", or "entirely preposterous". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "wholly absurd" the same as "partly absurd"?

No, "wholly absurd" and "partly absurd" have opposite meanings. "Wholly absurd" means completely ridiculous, while "partly absurd" means only somewhat ridiculous. Something that is partly absurd might have some elements that make sense, while something that is "wholly absurd" does not.