fails miserably

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fails miserably" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone or something does not succeed at all, often in a dramatic or humorous way. Example: "The new marketing strategy fails miserably, leading to a significant drop in sales."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Still England and Cipriani tries a drop goal and fails miserably, his kicking has been miserable today for all his exciting running play.

The Guardian - Sport

McArdle fails miserably, misquoting or misunderstanding other academic papers and Warren's own work while failing some basic analytical challenges.

Huffington Post

And when simplification fails, it fails miserably.

She Ji: The Journal of Design, Economics, and Innovation

He fails miserably, and becomes panic-stricken.

The New Yorker

In this realm "The Divide" fails miserably.

The New York Times

(By this standard, the current floodgate project fails miserably).

The New York Times

However it fails miserably in vivo conditions due to corrosion-related problems.

Electrochimica Acta

Amtrak fails miserably in short-distance corridors where trains could be useful.

The Economist

TEAL prides itself on being more personalized than lecture-based teaching, but it fails miserably.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"When the court gets involved in trying to make progressive change, it fails miserably," he said.

The New York Times

Prisons typically rely on the abstinence-only model, which fails miserably with heroin addicts.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context to ensure the phrase's intensity is appropriate. While effective for emphasizing failure, it might be too strong for minor setbacks.

Common error

Avoid using "fails miserably" too frequently in your writing, as it can become repetitive and diminish its impact. Vary your language by using synonyms like "falls flat" or "is a complete failure".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fails miserably" functions as a predicate in a sentence, describing the subject's unsuccessful outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in English. It strongly emphasizes the lack of success.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fails miserably" is a phrase used to emphatically describe a lack of success. Ludwig AI validates that it is correct and usable in English. The phrase sees frequent use across various contexts, notably in News & Media, Academia, and Wiki articles. When using "fails miserably", be mindful of its strong negative connotation. While it is suitable for a wide range of contexts, consider alternatives like "falls flat" or "is a complete failure" in situations that require a less intense expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is a complete failure

This emphasizes the utter lack of success, highlighting the total absence of desired results.

is a dismal failure

Emphasizes the depressing and discouraging nature of the failure.

flops completely

Similar to 'falls flat', it suggests a resounding and obvious failure, often in public view.

falls flat

This phrase implies a lack of impact or success, often in the context of a performance or attempt.

collapses spectacularly

This highlights a dramatic and often visible failure, implying a significant breakdown or downfall.

is an utter disaster

Suggests that not only did it fail, but it also created additional problems and chaos.

proves inadequate

Highlights the lack of required qualities or abilities to achieve success.

misfires badly

Suggests the failure was due to a malfunction or poor execution of a plan.

doesn't even come close

Emphasizes how far away from success the attempt was.

bombs

A more informal way to say something failed, often used in entertainment contexts.

FAQs

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

You can use "fails miserably" to describe something that is not at all successful, such as "The new marketing strategy fails miserably, leading to a significant drop in sales."

What's a less intense way to say "fails miserably"?

If you want to express failure without being so harsh, consider using alternatives such as "falls flat", "proves inadequate", or "does not succeed".

Is "fails miserably" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "fails miserably" is somewhat informal due to the word "miserably". In formal writing, consider using phrases like "is a complete failure" or "proves unsuccessful" for a more professional tone.

What kind of situations is "fails miserably" best suited for?

"Fails miserably" is most effective when describing situations where the failure is significant, unexpected, or even humorous in its magnitude. It's particularly useful when you want to emphasize the degree of the failure.