failed miserably

USAGE SUMMARY

"failed miserably" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when something has been attempted but has failed incredibly or in a very obvious way. Example sentence: Despite his extensive preparation, he failed miserably on the test.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They failed miserably.

University of California, Berkeley

"That failed miserably.

The New Yorker

Both failed miserably.

Forbes

And he's failed miserably.

The New Yorker

This failed miserably.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Richardson's experiment failed miserably.

The New York Times - Magazine

"They have failed miserably".

The New York Times

It has failed miserably.

University of California, Berkeley

It failed miserably.

The Economist

"That plan failed miserably".

The New York Times

The campaign failed miserably.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and context when using "failed miserably". While effective in conveying a strong sense of failure, it can be perceived as harsh or overly critical in certain situations. Choose a more nuanced expression if needed.

Common error

Avoid using "failed miserably" in highly formal or professional writing where a more neutral tone is preferred. Opt for phrases like "did not succeed" or "proved unsuccessful" to maintain a more objective and less emotive style.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed miserably" functions as a predicate within a sentence, expressing a strong negative evaluation of an action or endeavor. It asserts not just failure, but a spectacular or comprehensive one. As noted by Ludwig, it is perfectly correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "failed miserably" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote a complete and often embarrassing lack of success. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is perfectly acceptable in written English. Predominantly found in News & Media and academic contexts, this phrase serves to emphasize the magnitude of a failure, conveying disappointment or critical judgment. Alternatives such as ""completely failed"" or ""utterly failed"" can offer similar shades of meaning, while it's best to avoid the phrase in highly formal settings for a more neutral tone. Remember to use "failed miserably" when you want to make a strong statement about an obvious failure, but consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely failed

Focuses on the completeness of the failure, highlighting that there was no success at all.

utterly failed

Emphasizes the totality of the failure, suggesting a strong and undeniable lack of success.

failed abysmally

Adds a sense of depth to the failure, implying it was a significant and profound disappointment.

was a complete failure

Rephrases the failure as a state or condition, underscoring its comprehensive nature.

was a resounding failure

Highlights the public and obvious nature of the failure, indicating it was widely recognized.

bombed spectacularly

Uses a more dramatic and vivid image to describe the failure, suggesting it was noticeable and impactful.

fell flat on its face

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey the idea of a sudden and embarrassing failure.

didn't succeed at all

Presents a simple and direct way of stating the absence of success.

came to nothing

Suggests that the effort put in was wasted, as it did not produce any positive results.

proved unsuccessful

Offers a more formal and understated way of describing the failure.

FAQs

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

You can use "failed miserably" to emphasize the extent of a failure. For example, "Despite months of preparation, the project "failed miserably"".

What are some alternatives to "failed miserably"?

Alternatives include "utterly failed", "completely failed", or "was a complete failure", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "miserably failed" instead of "failed miserably"?

While not grammatically incorrect, "failed miserably" is the more common and natural phrasing. "Miserably failed" may sound awkward to native English speakers and is less frequently used.

What's the difference between "failed miserably" and "underperformed"?

"Failed miserably" indicates a complete and obvious lack of success, whereas "underperformed" suggests that something did not meet expectations but may have still achieved some level of success. One is an absolute failure, the other is a relative one.