failed to honor

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failed to honor" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a situation where someone did not fulfill a commitment or obligation. Example: "The company failed to honor its agreement with the suppliers, leading to a breakdown in trust."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But Kiev says the group has failed to honor its pledge.

The New York Times

— committed the boards to paying off other bondholders if corporations failed to honor their debts.

The New York Times

In addition, the federal government failed to honor General Butler's pledge of bounties, equal pay and rations for soldiers' families.

The New York Times

Trade Exchange Network, the complaint said, also failed to honor a 2005 agreement that it halt improper trading.

The New York Times

Some of the world's richest countries have failed to honor their financial pledges to some of the world's poorest.

The New York Times

Khodorkovsky had failed to honor an unspoken pact with the Kremlin: stay out of politics and stay rich.

The New Yorker

But, he said, The News of the World failed to honor its promise and did not rehire him.

The New York Times

The most recent hunger strike came after detention officials allegedly failed to honor promises made during a previous hunger strike.

The Washington Post

"Strike Two" alleges that MLBAM failed to honor at least ten specific positive obligations it contractually owed to SMT.

Harvard University

Someone had failed to honor the squeegee rule, which required visitors to clean the shower after use.

The New York Times

The Belgian government also asked for some $300 million in damages if Swissair failed to honor its commitments.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "failed to honor", ensure the context clearly specifies what commitment or obligation was not met. Providing specific details strengthens the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "failed to honor" without specifying the exact promise, agreement, or obligation that was breached. Lack of clarity weakens the impact and can confuse the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed to honor" functions as a verb phrase indicating a failure to fulfill a commitment, obligation, or promise. As Ludwig AI shows, this construction is commonly used to express breaches of agreements or unmet responsibilities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Academia

14%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Science

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "failed to honor" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe the breach of a promise or obligation. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage. Predominantly found in neutral and professional contexts, such as news and academic articles, it serves to express criticism or highlight accountability. When using the phrase, ensure you specify the exact commitment that was unmet for clarity. Alternatives include "did not fulfill", "neglected to uphold", and "breached the agreement", each with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not fulfill

Indicates a lack of completion or execution of a responsibility or promise.

neglected to uphold

Highlights a lack of attention or care in maintaining a commitment or standard.

breached the agreement

Specifically refers to the violation of a formal agreement or contract.

reneged on their promise

Implies a deliberate breaking of a promise or undertaking.

defaulted on their obligations

Focuses on the failure to meet financial or contractual duties.

did not keep their word

A more informal way of expressing a broken promise.

shirked responsibility

Emphasizes the avoidance of duty or accountability.

disregarded their commitments

Highlights a lack of attention or respect for agreed-upon responsibilities.

went back on their undertaking

Suggests a formal or serious commitment that was later abandoned.

fell short of expectations

Indicates a failure to meet anticipated standards or requirements.

FAQs

What does "failed to honor" mean?

The phrase "failed to honor" means that someone did not fulfill a promise, agreement, or obligation. It implies a breach of trust or commitment.

What can I say instead of "failed to honor"?

You can use alternatives like "did not fulfill", "neglected to uphold", or "breached the agreement" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "failed to honor" or "did not respect"?

While both phrases convey a lack of adherence to something, "failed to honor" usually implies a broken promise or agreement, whereas "did not respect" suggests a lack of admiration or consideration. The better choice depends on the specific situation.

How to use "failed to honor" in a sentence?

You can use "failed to honor" to describe a situation where someone didn't keep a promise or meet an obligation. For example: "The company "failed to honor" its contract with the suppliers."