doomed to disaster

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "doomed to disaster" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used to describe a situation or someone's fate that is likely to end in failure or destruction. Example: Despite their best efforts, the city was doomed to disaster as the floodwaters continued to rise. Example: The protagonist's reckless behavior made it clear that he was doomed to disaster in his relationships.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

We've been doomed to disaster, he asserts, ever since F.D.R. took us off the gold standard and introduced deposit insurance.

The New York Times

So he embarks on a mission to woo unwitting maid Mia Wasikowska – an enterprise that seems doomed to disaster given Nobbs's lack of obvious charms.

The Guardian - Film

This sounds a lot like what happens in a Ponzi scheme, where people are relying on an ever-growing number of new subscribers, and are doomed to disaster when the pool of potential suckers runs dry.

The New York Times

And for that reason virtually every feature-length Poe movie, no matter how cleverly it tries to expand, attenuate or embellish its original, is, if not doomed to disaster, at least courting it pretty aggressively.

The New York Times

A1 VIEWRANS' VIEW -- Russian veterans of war in Afghanistan say that anything but a tightly focused guerrilla conflict there is doomed to disaster -- and that even that may be, too.

The New York Times

In effect, methane from Brazilian pig effluent, Chinese industrial gases and African trees are being sold to rich-world companies that want to increase their carbon emissions.When this mechanism was set up, it was widely regarded as the sort of economist's conceit which was fine in theory but doomed to disaster in practice.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

We rarely heed the lessons of history; otherwise the South Sea Bubble of 1720 would have been a one-off, rather than a disaster doomed to be replicated again and again.

Independent

What is perplexing, however, is the extent to which otherwise rational and reasonable people are sustaining and perpetuating a dynamic in Egypt that in so many ways is emblematic of deep-seated cyclical, and even archetypal processes that invariably keep the region doomed to go from one disaster to another.

Huffington Post

They're the disruptive, disreputable interlopers at the party, pointed towards disaster and doomed to meet a bloody end.

The Guardian - Film

According to Air Marshal Errol McCormack, an F-111 pilot who rose to become Chief of the Air Staff, the system was a "disaster" that was doomed to failure owing to the relatively small size of the RAAF's F-111 fleet.

Wikipedia

He has described the settlement imposed on Greece in July as doomed to failure and will "go down in history as the greatest disaster of macroeconomic management ever".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "doomed to disaster" to convey a sense of inevitability regarding a negative outcome. It is best suited when describing situations where failure seems predetermined or unavoidable.

Common error

Avoid using "doomed to disaster" for minor setbacks or trivial situations. This phrase carries a strong connotation of significant and unavoidable failure, so reserve it for scenarios of genuine consequence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "doomed to disaster" functions as a predicate adjective phrase, modifying a subject to describe its likely and unavoidable negative outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage in describing situations heading towards failure.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "doomed to disaster" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express the inevitability of a negative outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage and provides various examples from reputable sources like The New York Times and The Economist. While suitable for formal and neutral contexts, it's crucial to reserve this phrase for situations where the failure is genuinely significant and unavoidable. Alternatives such as "destined for failure" or "headed for catastrophe" can provide nuanced variations in meaning. Avoid overusing it in trivial contexts to maintain its impact and relevance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

destined for failure

Focuses on the predetermined nature of the negative outcome, similar to "doomed", but uses "failure" instead of "disaster".

headed for catastrophe

Emphasizes the impending catastrophic nature of the outcome, replacing "doomed" with "headed" and "disaster" with "catastrophe".

fated to collapse

Highlights the inevitable collapse, using "fated" as a synonym for "doomed" and narrowing the scope to "collapse".

certain to fail

Indicates a high degree of certainty regarding failure, differing from "doomed to disaster" by focusing solely on failure.

predestined to crash

Implies a pre-ordained and abrupt negative outcome, replacing "disaster" with the more specific "crash".

bound to backfire

Suggests an inevitable negative consequence resulting from an action, differing from "doomed to disaster" by emphasizing the reactive nature.

sure to end badly

Focuses on the certainty of a bad ending, generalizing the outcome beyond "disaster".

on a collision course

Uses a metaphorical expression to convey an impending clash or disaster, differing in its figurative language.

set up for a fall

Suggests a situation contrived for someone's failure or downfall, adding a layer of intentionality absent in "doomed to disaster".

a recipe for ruin

Emphasizes that certain actions or events will certainly result to devastation.

FAQs

How can I use "doomed to disaster" in a sentence?

Use "doomed to disaster" to express the unavoidable nature of a negative outcome. For example, "The project, plagued by mismanagement, seemed "doomed to disaster" from the start."

What are some alternatives to "doomed to disaster"?

You can use alternatives like "destined for failure", "headed for catastrophe", or "fated to collapse" depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "doomed to disaster" in formal writing?

Yes, "doomed to disaster" is suitable for formal writing, particularly when conveying a serious or critical situation. However, ensure the tone aligns with the overall formality of the piece.

What is the difference between "doomed to disaster" and "likely to fail"?

"Doomed to disaster" implies a higher degree of certainty and a more severe negative outcome than "likely to fail". The former suggests inevitability, while the latter indicates a strong possibility of failure.