fatally flawed

USAGE SUMMARY

"fatally flawed" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that has a critical or irreparable defect. An example: "The project's design was fatally flawed, leading to its eventual failure." Alternative expressions include "fundamentally flawed" and "seriously flawed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Second, Fannie and Freddie were fatally flawed.

The New York Times

Unfortunately, each service is fatally flawed.

The New York Times - Tech

Transocean says that it was "fatally flawed".

The Guardian - Business

He says the amendment is fatally flawed.

The Guardian

Now that same model is seen as fatally flawed.

The Economist

Without the Italians, that model is fatally flawed.

The Guardian

The voucher system is fatally flawed and endangers our citizens.

The New York Times

Unfortunately, every one of these schemes is fatally flawed.

The New York Times - Books

"The original funding formula was fatally flawed," Collier said.

The Guardian

"But the building was fatally flawed in some way.

The New York Times - Arts

But analysis exposes the two leading studies as fatally flawed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fatally flawed" to describe core issues, not minor imperfections. The flaw should be significant enough to cause failure or severe problems.

Common error

Avoid using "fatally flawed" for minor imperfections. Reserve this phrase for situations where the flaw is critical and leads to significant negative outcomes. Using it too loosely dilutes its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fatally flawed" functions as a compound adjective used to describe a noun. It indicates that the noun possesses a critical defect that leads to inevitable failure or severe problems. Ludwig AI confirms this with multiple examples of usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fatally flawed" is a compound adjective indicating a critical, irreparable defect leading to inevitable failure. As shown by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and commonly used, particularly in News & Media and Science contexts. While alternatives like "irreparably flawed" and "fundamentally flawed" exist, "fatally flawed" conveys a strong negative assessment. It's crucial to use this phrase judiciously, reserving it for situations where the flaw is truly critical, to avoid diluting its impact. Always ensure the context makes it clear what makes the thing fatally flawed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fundamentally flawed

Emphasizes that the flaw is at the core or foundation of something.

irreparably flawed

Replaces "fatally" with "irreparably", emphasizing the inability to repair the flaw.

irredeemably flawed

Similar to "irreparably flawed", but emphasizes the impossibility of redemption or correction.

irretrievably flawed

Highlights the inability to recover from the flaw.

lethally flawed

Uses "lethally" instead of "fatally", intensifying the severity of the flaw.

fatally misconceived

Shifts the focus to the flawed concept or idea behind something, rather than the thing itself.

terminally defective

Highlights the defect causing end of life.

fatally misguided

Focuses on the flawed direction or guidance that led to the problem.

critically deficient

Highlights the deficiency or lack of something essential.

hopelessly inadequate

Emphasizes the lack of hope for improvement or correction.

FAQs

How can I use "fatally flawed" in a sentence?

You can use "fatally flawed" to describe something with a critical, irreparable defect. For example: "The initial design of the bridge was "fatally flawed", leading to its collapse."

What's the difference between "fatally flawed" and "seriously flawed"?

"Fatally flawed" implies a defect that will inevitably cause failure, while "seriously flawed" suggests significant issues but not necessarily a guaranteed failure. The first one represents a major issue, while the second might require more work for it to work.

What can I say instead of "fatally flawed"?

You can use alternatives like "irreparably flawed", "fundamentally flawed", or "critically deficient" depending on the specific context.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use the term "fatally flawed"?

It's appropriate to use "fatally flawed" in contexts where a core issue is causing something to collapse or not work. Example: "The system implementation was "fatally flawed" because it lacked security considerations."