abortive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "abortive" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that has failed to produce the desired result or has been unsuccessful in achieving its intended purpose. Example: "The company's attempt to launch the new product was abortive, leading to significant financial losses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

With its abortive abortion bill, GOP fundraising efforts may get a boost and Republicans may enjoy a renewed sense of common purpose in the wake of the NSA revelations that have divided conservatives.

The Economist

The abortive attacks on London and Glasgow took place in 2007, not 2006 as originally stated.

The Guardian

In reality, the real anti-democratic menace comes from the US's own allies, who launched abortive coups against both Chávez and Correa – and successful ones in Honduras in 2009 and Paraguay last year.

The Guardian - Opinion

Through the 1990s, attacks were restricted to targets – in Pakistan, Algeria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere – which were distant from western populations, with the exception of the first abortive plot to bomb the World Trade Center in New York in 1993.

The Guardian

Douglas Alexander, a former protege who fell out with Brown over the abortive plans to call a UK general election in 2007, experienced something of a reconciliation with his mentor, whose role he likened to that played by the Quebecois former Canadian prime ministers Pierre Elliott Trudeau and Jean Chrétien in the closing stages of the 1980 and 1995 Quebec referendums.

The Guardian

Money is the only sticking point, not the amount the cash-rich Fox has, especially after its bid for Time Warner collapsed last year, but the amount coughed up by Sky shareholders since the abortive 2011 bid.

The Guardian

More prosaically, Liberator magazine has suggested that Grant played a part in both Mark Oaten's abortive leadership bid and his attempt to save his parliamentary career - or at least forge a new one as a minor television celebrity.

The Guardian

Some 25 years have gone by since the pair embarked on their first extraordinary, abortive five-month tussle for the world title.

The Guardian - Sport

Only one attack – the abortive 2007 London and Glasgow strikes – has been definitively linked to someone involved in that previous conflict, and he was not a former fighter.

The Guardian

All that has changed since the IFC's abortive 1999 plan is that the demand for water has grown due to the arrival of millions more people in the city.

The Guardian

A project in collaboration with Oxford University to breed native vultures in captivity in situ proved abortive, and though 182 chicks have resulted from the Bombay Natural History Society's all-India secular progamme, it may be a while before it can rank among Europe's success with the Eurasian Griffon Vulture or the saving of the Californian Condor.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "abortive" to describe attempts or plans that have been started but did not come to a successful conclusion. It implies an early termination or failure to fully develop.

Common error

Avoid using "abortive" when you simply mean "difficult" or "challenging". "Abortive" specifically means that an attempt was started but failed to reach completion or success.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "abortive" primarily modifies nouns, describing them as unsuccessful or failing to achieve the intended outcome. It indicates that an attempt or action was started but did not reach a successful conclusion, as evidenced by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "abortive" is an adjective used to describe something that begins but does not fully develop or succeed. It appears most frequently in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English, although alternatives like "unsuccessful" or "failed" may be more common in everyday conversation. When using "abortive", ensure that the context aligns with its specific meaning of a failed attempt, and bear in mind that there are no frequent errors associated with it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unsuccessful

Focuses directly on the lack of success in achieving a goal.

fruitless

Emphasizes the lack of positive outcome or result.

failed

A general term indicating a lack of success or completion.

ineffectual

Highlights the inability to produce a desired effect or result.

vain

Suggests that efforts were ultimately pointless or without value.

aborting

Focuses on the process of stopping something prematurely.

stillborn

Emphasizes that something was dead at birth or never had a chance.

futile

Highlights the pointlessness of the attempt, often due to inherent limitations.

unproductive

Emphasizes the lack of output or results from an action or effort.

infructuous

Highlights the condition of not bearing fruit, thus not yielding useful or positive results

FAQs

How can I use "abortive" in a sentence?

You can use "abortive" to describe something that failed to achieve its intended result, such as "The company's "abortive attempt" to launch a new product led to financial losses."

What are some alternatives to "abortive"?

Alternatives to "abortive" include "unsuccessful", "fruitless", or "failed", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "abortive" the same as "aborted"?

"Abortive" describes something that is inherently failing or has failed, while "aborted" describes the act of intentionally stopping something. For instance, a mission can be "aborted", resulting in an "abortive" attempt.

What's the difference between "abortive" and "futile"?

"Abortive" implies that something started but did not finish successfully, whereas "futile" suggests that something had little to no chance of success from the beginning.