absolutely failed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "absolutely failed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize a complete lack of success in a particular endeavor or task. Example: "Despite all the preparation, the project absolutely failed to meet its objectives."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

A. There have been people who have absolutely failed in this system.

The New York Times

On the issues most important to New Hampshire, she has absolutely failed".

The New York Times

Multiculturalism has "absolutely failed", she said on October 16th, implying that immigrants would be expected to integrate better into German society.

The Economist

"We have absolutely failed kids by not understanding that the digital world was as much a reality as any other experience they had," Lady Kidron told the Guardian.

The Guardian

We wanted to see him succeed but with the exception of the honeymoon period of our relationship, he's absolutely failed to perform under the terms of our agreement".

The New York Times

"The city has absolutely failed to prove its scandalous innuendo that the judges of the Criminal Courts have been unwilling to enforce the law," the judge wrote.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

"I absolutely fail to understand her.

The Guardian - Arts

What he absolutely fails to recognize is that in 2011, President Obama had already determined to "engage the public to identify and recommend potential sites on existing federal lands for protection under the 1906 Antiquities Act".

Huffington Post

I've always been on the edges, so I pay attention to the folks who are experimenting with ideas that could absolutely fail, because they've never been tried.

Huffington Post

It is all but impossible to design a system that is totally and absolutely fail-safe.

Programmable Controllers An engineer's guide

Neel, who died in 1984, pursued the ancient art of portraiture at a time when Abstract Expressionism was king and wielded its power absolutely; she failed to garner wide attention until she was in her 70s.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "absolutely failed" to underscore the magnitude of a failure when you want to leave no doubt about the lack of success.

Common error

Avoid using "absolutely failed" in very casual conversations; it can sound overly dramatic. Opt for simpler phrasing like "didn't work out" or "totally bombed" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "absolutely failed" functions as an adverbial intensifier combined with a verb, emphatically describing the complete lack of success. Ludwig provides numerous examples showing its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "absolutely failed" is a grammatically correct and relatively common way to express a complete lack of success. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is suitable for use in news, media, and formal business contexts and functions as an intensifier emphasizing the magnitude of the failure. While not overly formal, it should be used judiciously in casual conversation, where simpler phrasing might be more appropriate. Alternatives like "completely failed" or "utterly failed" offer similar emphasis and may be used interchangeably in many situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely failed

Replaces "absolutely" with "completely", indicating a total lack of success.

utterly failed

Substitutes "absolutely" with "utterly", stressing the thoroughness of the failure.

totally failed

Replaces "absolutely" with "totally", highlighting the completeness of the failure.

thoroughly failed

Emphasizes the depth and extent of the failure.

resoundingly failed

Highlights a failure that is clear and undeniable.

unequivocally failed

Indicates a failure that is unambiguous and leaves no room for doubt.

patently failed

Emphasizes that the failure is obvious and evident.

demonstrably failed

Indicates that the failure can be proven or shown.

decisively failed

Highlights that the failure was definitive and conclusive.

flatly failed

Emphasizes a direct and outright failure.

FAQs

What does "absolutely failed" mean?

The phrase "absolutely failed" means that something has completely and utterly not succeeded. It emphasizes the total lack of success in a particular endeavor.

How can I use "absolutely failed" in a sentence?

You can use "absolutely failed" to describe a project, plan, or attempt that did not achieve its objectives, such as, "The marketing campaign "absolutely failed" to attract new customers."

What are some alternatives to "absolutely failed"?

Alternatives include "completely failed", "utterly failed", or "totally failed". These options offer similar emphasis on the lack of success.

Is "absolutely failed" too strong a phrase to use in professional writing?

While "absolutely failed" is acceptable, consider the context. In some cases, softer phrasing like "did not succeed" or "proved unsuccessful" may be more appropriate, especially when discussing sensitive issues.