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There is a saying that is on the tip of my tongue that basically means "immeasurably more than". I think it's related to "factor" but I just cannot place it. I also feel like it's commonly used in a technically incorrect way but I can't be sure.

Example Sentence:

The new process is _______________ simpler than the previous one.

I'm almost positive it's math related.

THE JOATMON
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    Please provide an example sentence (and exact intended meaning) in which you might use the sought term. – FumbleFingers Feb 21 '19 at 17:15
  • I added an example sentence. I don't know the exact meaning because I think it is typically used in an exaggerative form. – THE JOATMON Feb 21 '19 at 17:17
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    I've removed my original closevote (based on lack of an example context), so I can't re-vote to close (for Primarily Opinion-Based). In your specific example, *vastly* (or just plain *much) comes to mind, but there are so many alternatives it simply isn't reasonable to suppose there would be a single unambiguously "correct" answer. Perhaps you'd prefer infinitely*. (You can't get much more "extreme" than that! :) – FumbleFingers Feb 21 '19 at 17:19
  • There is a single, unambiguously, correct answer. It's the one I'm thinking of but cannot remember. – THE JOATMON Feb 21 '19 at 17:22
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    Well like I said, I can't closevote again, so I'll play your guessing game a bit longer. If you're looking for a multi-word term, maybe *far and away* might work (but I probably wouldn't use it myself in this exact context). – FumbleFingers Feb 21 '19 at 17:29
  • Added a clue, I'm almost positive it's math related. I had already said I think it's "factor" based but still, hopefully this helps. – THE JOATMON Feb 21 '19 at 17:30
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    I'd agree with @FumbleFingers, if you really mean "immeasurably more than" in a math related way then infinitely seems the word to go with. Exponentially might work in some situations but it's not as good a fit. – KillingTime Feb 21 '19 at 17:33
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    Here are a few instances of *factorially greater [than something much smaller].* But I think they're misusing the term anyway. – FumbleFingers Feb 21 '19 at 17:34
  • I just found it, finally. Gave you all upvotes for trying to help :) – THE JOATMON Feb 21 '19 at 17:39

2 Answers2

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The "more" aspect is already included in the word choice "simpler" of your example sentence. You might consider "exponentially", "immeasurably", or "infinitely" to fill in the blank. Each of these are math related words commonly intended to mean "vastly". In fact, you could use that one too.

The new process is vastly simpler than the previous one.

https://www.thefreedictionary.com/exponentially

https://www.thefreedictionary.com/immeasurably

https://www.thefreedictionary.com/vastly

user22542
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Order of Magnitude

References:

https://brians.wsu.edu/2016/05/19/orders-of-magnitude/

Many pretentious writers have begun to use the expression “orders of magnitude” without understanding what it means.

Usage of "order of magnitude"

"Order of magnitude" for qualitative changes

Usage

incorrectly, but commonly:

The new process is orders of magnitude simpler than the old one

Or, I believe, correctly:

The new process is an order of magnitude simpler than the old one

Community
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THE JOATMON
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  • An *order of magnitude* just means *ten times more*. But in [pretentious, imho] casual parlance it's not normally used very exactly. – FumbleFingers Feb 21 '19 at 17:44
  • I think I see what you're saying. And yes, "pretentious", which is why I quoted the WSU article. – THE JOATMON Feb 21 '19 at 17:46
  • I'm not sure I'd call it a "colloquialism" though. It's a fairly precise mathematical term that's often bandied about in other contexts for its "erudite" associations. – FumbleFingers Feb 21 '19 at 17:58
  • Yes, you are correct, but when I couldn't remember it I was thinking it might be. Perhaps "idiom" would have been more accurate? – THE JOATMON Feb 21 '19 at 17:58