flagrant failure

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "flagrant failure" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where there has been a blatant or obvious failure, often in a serious or significant context. Example: "The project was deemed a flagrant failure due to the lack of planning and execution."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Others said it represented a flagrant failure of accountability.

The Guardian

That would be a flagrant failure to comply with the U.N. resolution.

The New York Times

Two other events were also seminal: the privacy case brought by Max Mosley against the News of the World and Tesco's libel action against the Guardian – to my mind the most flagrant failure in many years of our laws to protect investigative journalism against action by a determined, deep-pocketed corporation.

The Guardian - Opinion

Lastly, the most flagrant failure of these policies concerned the care of indigents, or exemption from user fees for the worst-off, according to the vocabulary of that time and Principle 7 of the BI.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

But being banned from independently reporting flagrant failures in social work practice as they are revealed in court actively obstructs public understanding of the harm being done by state agencies when child protection goes wrong.

The Guardian - Opinion

It should be replaced with a "senior person regime" where all responsibilities are assigned to a specific senior individuals in an attempt to address the problem that "the most senior individuals at the highest level within banks, like Macavity, cannot be held responsible for even the most widespreads and flagrant failures".

The Guardian - Business

Titled "No License To Lie: Standards For Impartial Judgment in the Ward Churchill Investigation," I laid out many legitimate reasons for termination, including demonstrated professional incompetence, his neglect of duty, resume fraud and his flagrant, persistent failure to meet minimum standards of professional integrity.

Huffington Post

But perhaps the most flagrant example of private market failure lies in banking.

The Guardian - Opinion

Rolls-Royce, for example, has five variations of its big Trent class engines that can fit ten aircraft, while GE's sole really large engine fits only the Boeing 777.Despite their failure to find flagrant subsidy in Rolls-Royce's accounts, Americans in the industry wonder how Rolls-Royce can price so keenly.

The Economist

Moreover, a new report from Environmental Justice Australia reveals that the previous government rushed the approval process for Adani, calling into question Adani's authority to even operate in Australia, citing a failure to investigate Adani's flagrant disregard for environmental laws in India.

HuffPost

The rights group Amnesty International warned that any failure to take adequate precautions would be a "flagrant violation of international humanitarian law".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "flagrant failure" to emphasize the severity and obviousness of a failure, particularly when highlighting negligence or misconduct.

Common error

Avoid using "flagrant failure" in everyday conversation; it is best reserved for formal writing or serious discussions where the gravity of the situation needs to be emphasized.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "flagrant failure" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "flagrant" modifies the noun "failure", emphasizing the obvious and unacceptable nature of the failure. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "flagrant failure" is a phrase used to describe an obvious and severe lack of success, often due to negligence or disregard for standards. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically sound and appropriate for formal contexts such as news, media, and business communications. While relatively rare, its impact lies in its capacity to emphasize the gravity and conspicuousness of a failure. Alternatives like "blatant failure" or "egregious failure" can be used to convey similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

blatant failure

Replaces "flagrant" with "blatant", indicating an obvious and unconcealed failure.

egregious failure

Substitutes "flagrant" with "egregious", highlighting an extraordinarily bad or shocking failure.

conspicuous failure

Replaces "flagrant" with "conspicuous", suggesting the failure is easily noticeable.

obvious failure

Uses "obvious" instead of "flagrant", indicating the failure is readily apparent.

clear failure

Replaces "flagrant" with "clear", meaning the failure is easily understood and not questionable.

glaring failure

Substitutes "flagrant" with "glaring", conveying that the failure is highly conspicuous and hard to ignore.

patent failure

Replaces "flagrant" with "patent", indicating an obvious and undeniable failure.

evident failure

Uses "evident" instead of "flagrant", implying the failure is easily perceived or understood.

unequivocal failure

Replaces "flagrant" with "unequivocal", meaning the failure is clear and leaves no doubt.

palpable failure

Substitutes "flagrant" with "palpable", suggesting the failure is so obvious it can almost be felt.

FAQs

How can I use "flagrant failure" in a sentence?

You can use "flagrant failure" to describe a situation where something has clearly and obviously failed, especially due to negligence or disregard for rules. For example, "The project was a "flagrant failure" due to poor planning and execution."

What are some alternatives to "flagrant failure"?

Alternatives include "blatant failure", "egregious failure", or "obvious failure". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "flagrant failure" a formal expression?

Yes, "flagrant failure" is considered a formal expression. It's best used in professional or academic writing where a high degree of formality is expected.

What distinguishes "flagrant failure" from a simple "failure"?

The word "flagrant" emphasizes the obviousness and severity of the failure. A "failure" is simply a lack of success, while a "flagrant failure" suggests a blatant disregard for expected standards or rules.