bound to defeat

USAGE SUMMARY

"bound to defeat" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something is highly likely or certain to fail or be defeated. For example: "The home team is bound to defeat the visiting team - they're much stronger."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The reality of Iraq is bound to defeat the fantasies of Washington, the officer suggested.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Cathlyn P. Wilkerson, who took part in the "Four Days of Rage" in the streets of Chicago last October, did so "knowing it was bound to be defeated," according to a friend.

The New York Times

The Tories are full of gloom (see article) they are doing badly in the polls, and everybody thinks they are bound to be defeated at the general election expected in May.

The Economist

It wants independence for the Welsh-speaking heartlands.The battle for the heartlands is bound to end in defeat.

The Economist

Good luck, then, to anyone within the M25 looking to advise Exeter that one of sport's more feelgood recent journeys is bound to end in defeat by Saracens in the Premiership final.

The Guardian - Sport

After seeing off Moyes, Everton were bound to lose After a defeat, Sir Alex Ferguson consoled himself by saying the opposition would pay for it in their next match.

Independent

He was indeed a 'sodomite' (in the ugly, pejorative language of the time), and pretending to be otherwise to defeat his enemy was bound to end in failure.

The Guardian - Books

The end result, after a promising beginning, was another disappointing home defeat which is bound to put further pressure on Trapattoni.

BBC

In fact, the political crisis that referendum defeats would be bound to bring was entirely avoidable.

The Economist

But any successes in defeating this or that cut or privatisation are bound to be partial.

The Guardian - Opinion

Things are bound to get worse against the Titans, who opened their season by defeating the Eagles, 27-24.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "bound to defeat" to express a strong conviction that someone or something will inevitably be defeated. This phrase suggests a high degree of certainty based on current circumstances or inherent weaknesses.

Common error

Avoid using "bound to defeat" when expressing mere opinions or predictions without concrete evidence. This phrase implies a near-certain outcome, so ensure your assessment is well-supported.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bound to defeat" functions as a predicative adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate an almost certain future outcome. It suggests a high probability of failure or defeat, often based on existing conditions. As Ludwig AI confirms, its structure is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "bound to defeat" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express a high degree of certainty about an impending defeat. While Ludwig AI confirms it is correct and usable, it appears relatively rarely in written English. Predominantly found in News & Media, Science and Encyclopedias, the phrase conveys a sense of inevitability and is suitable for neutral to formal contexts. Alternatives like "inevitably defeated" can provide similar meaning with slightly different connotations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inevitably defeated

Highlights that defeat is unavoidable, focusing on the certainty of the outcome.

destined to lose

Replaces "defeat" with "lose", focusing on the outcome of losing rather than the act of being defeated.

certain to be beaten

Uses a more passive construction, emphasizing the inevitability of being overcome.

guaranteed to fail

Shifts the focus to failure as the inevitable result, rather than direct defeat.

cannot possibly win

Expresses impossibility of success, focusing on the lack of a chance for victory.

sure to succumb

Implies yielding or giving way under pressure, suggesting a lack of resistance to defeat.

bound to be unsuccessful

Replaces the concept of "defeat" with a more general term of "unsuccessful", broadening the scope of failure.

doomed to be vanquished

Emphasizes a sense of fate or destiny leading to defeat, with a more dramatic tone.

fated to be overcome

Similar to 'doomed', it implies destiny but focuses on being overpowered.

set up for a fall

Suggests external factors or circumstances are conspiring to cause failure.

FAQs

How can I use "bound to defeat" in a sentence?

You can use "bound to defeat" to express a strong belief that something is destined for failure. For example, "Their outdated strategies are bound to defeat against the innovative tactics of their competitor."

What's a more formal alternative to "bound to defeat"?

A more formal alternative to "bound to defeat" could be "inevitably defeated", which maintains a similar meaning while sounding more sophisticated.

Is there a difference between "bound to defeat" and "likely to lose"?

While both suggest a negative outcome, "bound to defeat" implies a higher degree of certainty than "likely to lose". The former suggests the defeat is almost guaranteed, whereas the latter suggests it's probable but not certain.

When is it appropriate to use "bound to defeat"?

It's appropriate to use "bound to defeat" when you have strong evidence or reasoning to believe that a certain entity will be defeated. Use it when expressing a conclusion based on clear disadvantages or insurmountable obstacles.