deemed a failure

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "deemed a failure" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when assessing or evaluating something that has not met expectations or has not succeeded. Example: "After reviewing the project's outcomes, it was ultimately deemed a failure by the committee."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Most households, of course, are less exotic, if only a bit less worrisome to those for whom any arrangement other than the nuclear family is deemed a failure.

The New York Times

To do otherwise is deemed a failure.

The New York Times

Anything less than 35% would be deemed a failure.

The Economist

You are deemed a failure because you haven't been able to find a paid job.

The Guardian

After intermission came Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5, which that always insecure composer deemed a failure.

The New York Times - Arts

A similar scheme in the 1980s did not raise achievement levels and was deemed a failure.

The Economist

A. Even the fact that it was deemed a failure — financially, it wasn't really.

The New York Times

"He could easily have been lost to the game had he been deemed a failure at Old Trafford.

The Guardian - Sport

Pathfinder was eventually deemed a failure and was closed last year in favor of individual magazine sites.

The New York Times

In its previous incarnation, the program was deemed a failure after it produced only about 50 new loans.

The New York Times

Fail to fulfil at least one of these social functions and the music is deemed a failure.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the criteria for failure are well-defined and understood when stating that something is "deemed a failure".

Common error

Avoid using "deemed a failure" without specifying the subject or criteria. This can create ambiguity. Instead of saying "The experiment was deemed a failure", specify who made the assessment: "The scientists deemed the experiment a failure because the hypothesis was not supported."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "deemed a failure" functions as a predicative expression, typically following a linking verb (such as "was", "is", or "were"). It ascribes the property of being a failure to a preceding subject. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's proper usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

21%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "deemed a failure" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to express that something has been judged as unsuccessful. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment, showcasing the phrase's prevalence across varied contexts such as news, science, and general discourse. While typically neutral to formal, it can be adjusted for tone and clarity by specifying the actors and criteria involved. Alternative phrases like "considered unsuccessful" or "regarded as a failure" provide similar semantic weight with slight variations in formality and emphasis. By being mindful of these nuances, writers can use "deemed a failure" effectively to convey negative evaluations with precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considered unsuccessful

Replaces "deemed" with "considered", focusing on the act of evaluating something as not successful.

regarded as a failure

Similar to "considered unsuccessful", but uses "regarded" to emphasize a general opinion.

judged to be a failure

Emphasizes the act of making a judgment about something's failure.

seen as unsuccessful

Focuses on the perception of a lack of success.

proven to be a failure

Implies that something has demonstrated its failure through evidence.

turned out to be a failure

Highlights the outcome of something not being successful.

collapsed

Suggests a more dramatic and sudden end to something successful.

fell short of expectations

Indicates a failure to meet anticipated goals or standards.

did not succeed

A simple and direct way to express a lack of success.

abortive attempt

Suggests an attempt was made but was not achieved

FAQs

How can I use "deemed a failure" in a sentence?

You can use "deemed a failure" when you want to express that something has been judged as unsuccessful. For example: "The project was "deemed a failure" after it failed to meet its objectives."

What are some alternatives to "deemed a failure"?

Alternatives include "considered unsuccessful", "regarded as a failure", or "judged to be a failure". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "deemed a failure"?

While "deemed a failure" is often used in the passive voice, using the active voice can provide clarity. For example, instead of "The plan was deemed a failure", you could say "The committee deemed the plan a failure."

What's the difference between "deemed a failure" and "considered a failure"?

"Deemed" suggests a more formal judgment or assessment, while "considered" implies a more general opinion or view. Both can be used to describe something that is not successful, but "deemed" often carries a stronger sense of official evaluation compared to "considered a failure".