completely failed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "completely failed" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to emphasize that something was not successful at all. For example: "The company's attempt to enter the market completely failed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This strategy completely failed.

The New York Times

They have completely failed.

The Guardian

"The coup has completely failed.

The Guardian

"He has completely failed in checking corruption.

The New York Times

You completely failed to mention foreign policy.

The Guardian - Opinion

The drug laws have completely failed.

The New York Times

They completely failed in that task.

The Guardian

It completely failed to inspire me," he says.

The Guardian

This was our essential purpose, and we completely failed".

The Guardian - Music

"Many have the impression the government has completely failed.

The New Yorker

He said, "Well, I think that completely failed".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "completely failed" to emphasize a total lack of success, leaving no room for ambiguity. It's stronger than simply saying something "failed".

Common error

While "completely failed" is acceptable in many contexts, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive or overly negative. Consider using more nuanced alternatives like "proved unsuccessful" or "did not achieve its objectives" in formal reports.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "completely failed" functions as a predicate in a sentence, asserting that a subject has been entirely unsuccessful. Ludwig AI confirms this is correct. The phrase strongly emphasizes the negative outcome.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

16%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "completely failed" is a versatile and common expression used to emphasize a total lack of success. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely accepted. While predominantly found in News & Media, it also appears in Scientific and Academic writing. When choosing an alternative, consider the nuance you want to convey; options range from "utterly failed" for emphasis to "proved unsuccessful" for a more formal tone. Use "completely failed" when you want to highlight the absolute absence of positive results but be mindful of overuse, especially in formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utterly failed

Emphasizes the total and absolute nature of the failure.

entirely failed

Indicates that the failure was comprehensive and without exception.

totally failed

Synonymous, but slightly less formal emphasizing the complete lack of success.

absolutely failed

Stresses the certainty and decisiveness of the failure.

wholly failed

Highlights the comprehensive nature of the failure, leaving nothing untouched.

proved unsuccessful

More formal and indirect way of stating a failure.

did not succeed

A neutral and straightforward way to indicate a lack of success.

fell short

Suggests a failure to reach a target or expectation.

came to nothing

Implies that efforts were wasted and no positive result was achieved.

was a complete washout

Informal and emphatic, suggesting a total disaster.

FAQs

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

You can use "completely failed" to emphasize the total lack of success. For example, "The new strategy "completely failed" to improve sales figures."

What are some alternatives to "completely failed"?

Alternatives include "utterly failed", "entirely failed", or "proved unsuccessful", depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

Is it more correct to say "completely failed" or "totally failed"?

Both "completely failed" and "totally failed" are correct and widely used. The choice often depends on personal preference, as the meaning is nearly identical. Completely may be preferred in more formal writing.

What does it mean when something has "completely failed"?

When something has "completely failed", it means it did not achieve any of its intended goals or objectives. There was a total absence of success, and potentially negative results.