abortively

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "abortively" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe an action that is unsuccessful or fails to achieve its intended purpose. Example: "The project was abortively launched, leading to significant losses for the company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

During this short period of Whig administration, the king allowed his ministers to discuss (abortively) peace with Napoleon and to abolish the slave trade; he asserted himself and forced their resignation only when they dared to propose some amelioration of the laws against Roman Catholics.

Encyclopedia Britannica

She got him, against his inclinations, out of St . Paul— first, abortively, to Colorado Springs, and then, lastingly, to California — which was likely to the good, since he then had to reimagine his childhood instead of merely relive it.

The New Yorker

Lamentably, the company now finds itself on the brink of collapse — a dire stage of the crisis that began unfolding in 2007, when Gerard Mortier was abortively hired as the general director.

The New Yorker

They started the site on a whim in 2011 when they were seniors and housemates who belonged — Ms. Abraham abortively — to Alpha Epsilon Phi.

The New York Times

Both men were besotted with their mothers, and after the death of Mrs Weisz, Houdini experimented abortively with seances (it may, though Sandford doesn't say as much, have been this personal knowledge of the bereaved's vulnerability that drove his later exposés).

The Guardian - Books

Her first two films – Ratcatcher (1999) and Morvern Callar (2002) – were highly acclaimed, but then for five years she was abortively attached to an adaptation of Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones, a film that was eventually directed by Peter Jackson.

The Guardian - Film

At the start of his career, when he rode the 2007 Tour de France at the age of 21, Thomas was abortively nicknamed "the penguin", as David Millar thought he resembled one of the birds from the film Madagascar, with a cuddly exterior hiding the inner assassin.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "abortively" to add nuance when describing failed attempts, particularly when emphasizing prematurity or a disrupted process. It's more descriptive than simply saying "unsuccessfully."

Common error

Avoid using "abortively" when a simple "unsuccessfully" will suffice. The word carries a specific connotation of premature termination or a disrupted natural course, so ensure it fits the context.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "abortively" modifies verbs, adverbs, or adjectives, indicating that an action was performed unsuccessfully or fruitlessly. It often implies that the action was cut short or disrupted. As Ludwig AI highlights, the term is used to describe actions that do not achieve their intended outcome.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Encyclopedias

14%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "abortively" is an adverb used to describe actions that are unsuccessful due to premature termination or disruption. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical status is correct, and it is most frequently found in News & Media and Encyclopedia contexts. While not overly common, using "abortively" can add nuance to your writing when describing failed attempts. Remember to consider synonyms like "unsuccessfully", "in vain", or "fruitlessly" for alternative expressions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unsuccessfully

Direct synonym, indicating a lack of success.

in vain

Emphasizes the futility of the attempt.

fruitlessly

Highlights the lack of positive results despite effort.

without success

A more descriptive way of saying something didn't work out.

to no avail

Similar to "in vain", stressing the lack of any benefit.

failed attempt

Focuses on the attempt itself being unsuccessful.

ineffectually

Highlights the lack of effectiveness in the action.

unproductively

Stresses the absence of any useful output.

futilely

Similar to "fruitlessly", highlighting the uselessness of the action.

unprofitably

Indicates a lack of gain or benefit from the effort.

FAQs

How to use "abortively" in a sentence?

The word "abortively" is used to describe something done in an abortive manner; that is, unsuccessfully or without completing the intended goal. For example, "They started the site on a whim in 2011 when they were seniors and housemates who belonged — Ms. Abraham "abortively" — to Alpha Epsilon Phi."

What can I say instead of "abortively"?

You can use alternatives like "unsuccessfully", "in vain", or "fruitlessly" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "abortively attempted" or "unsuccessfully attempted"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "abortively attempted" implies that the attempt was cut short or disrupted prematurely, while "unsuccessfully attempted" simply means the attempt failed.

What's the difference between "abortively" and "prematurely"?

"Abortively" describes an action that fails to achieve its purpose, often due to being stopped midway, while "prematurely" describes something happening or being done too early. While related, they emphasize different aspects of a failed endeavor.