devised to fail

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "devised to fail" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a plan, system, or strategy that has been intentionally designed or structured in a way that leads to failure. Example: "The project was poorly planned and ultimately devised to fail from the start."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Did the firm deliberately mislead its clients who bought a mortgage-related investment without the knowledge that it was devised to fail?

The New York Times

At the hearing, senators pressed Goldman executives on the allegations by the S.E.C. that the firm had misled investors by selling them a complex mortgage investment that was secretly devised to fail.

The New York Times

In April, the bank was accused of securities fraud in a civil suit filed by the S.E.C., which contended that it created and sold a mortgage investment that was secretly devised to fail.

The New York Times

In essence, Goldman is accused of pushing a mortgage investment that was secretly devised to fail.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Fail to prepare; prepare to fail.

BBC

A number of methods have been devised to analyze shape, but many fail to correctly remove size variation and may also inadvertently remove shape variation in their attempt [55], [56].

Plosone

According to the Securities and Exchange Commission, Goldman had devised the investment to fail from the start so that Mr. Paulson could wager against it.

The New York Times

In the 1990s, accountants clearly failed to keep up with the tricks that were devised to help companies inflate their profits.

The Economist

The eurozone was easily portrayed as a basket case in which failed EU policies were stirring up the very extremism the union had been devised to prevent.

The Guardian

Governors were devised to prevent this.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Interventions were devised to target these factors.

Breast Cancer Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "devised to fail" to emphasize intentionality in the setup for failure, rather than accidental shortcomings. This suggests deliberate manipulation or flawed design.

Common error

Avoid using "devised to fail" when the failure is due to incompetence or unforeseen circumstances. This phrase implies a plan or system was intentionally created to not succeed, not that it simply failed due to poor planning or execution.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "devised to fail" is as a post-positive modifier describing a noun (plan, system, investment, etc.). It indicates the intended outcome of the thing being modified, emphasizing a deliberate plan leading to failure. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage based on available examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "devised to fail" is a powerful expression used to describe scenarios where a plan or system is intentionally designed to fail. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and appears most frequently in news and media contexts. It carries a connotation of intentionality and often implies criticism or suspicion. Alternative phrases, like "designed for failure" or "engineered to fail", can be used to convey similar meanings, depending on the specific nuance desired. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates deliberate intent, distinguishing it from failures caused by incompetence or unforeseen circumstances. The phrase is grammatically correct and conveys a clear meaning when used appropriately.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

designed for failure

Focuses on the initial design aspect, emphasizing that the plan was created with failure in mind.

engineered to fail

Suggests a more technical or systematic approach to ensuring failure, implying careful planning.

predetermined to fail

Emphasizes that the failure was decided in advance, leaving no room for success.

doomed to fail

Highlights the inevitability of the failure, suggesting a lack of hope or possibility for success.

set up to fail

Implies that external forces or circumstances were manipulated to cause the failure.

intended to collapse

Focuses on the collapse or breakdown of a structure or system as the intended outcome.

built to fall apart

Suggests inherent flaws or weaknesses in the design that inevitably lead to failure.

destined for collapse

Highlights the inevitable and often dramatic failure of a system or plan.

made to fall apart

Highlights a deliberate act with the aim of making something fail.

crafted for disaster

Implies meticulous planning towards a disastrous outcome, often with a sense of irony or dark humor.

FAQs

How can I use "devised to fail" in a sentence?

You can use "devised to fail" to describe a plan or system that was intentionally created to fail. For example, "The investment strategy was "devised to fail" from the beginning, benefiting only a select few."

What is a synonym for "devised to fail"?

Synonyms include phrases like "designed for failure", "engineered to fail", or "set up to fail", all implying intentionality in creating a failing system.

What's the difference between "devised to fail" and "failed unexpectedly"?

"Devised to fail" implies a deliberate intention for something to fail, whereas "failed unexpectedly" suggests the failure was unintentional and surprising. The former suggests manipulation, the latter suggests accident.

Is it correct to say something was "devised to succeed" instead of "devised to fail"?

Yes, "devised to succeed" is a correct and contrasting phrase. It describes a plan or strategy intentionally designed for success. The choice depends entirely on the intended meaning.