fundamentally fail

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fundamentally fail" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used to describe a situation or action that is fundamentally flawed or destined to fail from the beginning. Example: "Despite their best efforts, the company's marketing strategy was fundamentally flawed and ultimately led to their products failing in the market."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"It's just unbelievable that this Congress is going to fundamentally fail to act on a societal scourge that the majority of the people in this country support," Mr. Cuomo said.

The New York Times

Everything today is so localized and subject-specific that in many respects remarketing tools, even though deemed a success by many experts, in my estimation, they fundamentally fail.

Forbes

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, describes the plans as another "attack on young people" and says they "fundamentally fail to deal with the reasons that so many of them are unable to find work or are not in education and training.

BBC

To fail to understand this or to refuse to understand this is to fundamentally fail to understand the American Civil War.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"He's fundamentally failed us".

The New York Times

And again, it fundamentally fails to support people to do a better job.

The Guardian

The PCS trade union, which represents civil servants, said Mr Duncan Smith had "fundamentally failed in his job", however.

Independent

The U.S. advisory program has fundamentally failed in its aim to persude the Vietnamese officers to get their men into the countryside & keep them there.

The New Yorker

"Santa Cruz is feeling that pressure," added Downing, who argued in her letter that Palo Alto has fundamentally failed to fix its housing crisis by blocking new developments.

The Guardian

It was "sloppy and complacent" and "fundamentally failed to do its essential job of ensuring the safety of the Nimrod fleet," says the report.

The Guardian

Eric King, deputy director of Privacy International, which also took a similar case to the IPT, said: "Our system of oversight and remedy has fundamentally failed.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fundamentally fail" when you want to emphasize that the failure is not superficial but is rooted in the very core or foundation of something. It's stronger than simply saying something 'failed'.

Common error

Avoid using "fundamentally fail" too often, as it can lose its impact. Consider using synonyms or rephrasing to provide variety and maintain the emphasis when it's truly needed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fundamentally fail" functions as a predicate in a sentence, indicating that the subject's failure is deep-seated and intrinsic. Ludwig AI shows that the phrase carries a strong connotation of inherent flaw or deficiency. The expression can be used in various contexts to express the idea of something being destined to fail because of a problem at its core.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fundamentally fail" is a grammatically sound expression used to describe a situation where something is destined to fail due to inherent flaws. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides examples primarily from news and media sources. While not exceedingly common, it's appropriate for both formal and informal contexts. Consider using synonyms like "completely fall short" or "utterly collapse" for variety. When writing, ensure you're highlighting a deep-seated issue rather than a superficial one, and avoid overusing the phrase to maintain its impact. Using "fundamentally fail" allows writers to express a judgement on the inadequacy of something.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely fall short

Emphasizes a lack of achievement or a failure to meet expectations entirely.

utterly collapse

Highlights a total breakdown or disintegration of something.

radically underperform

Focuses on a significant failure to achieve the expected level of performance.

thoroughly disappoint

Indicates a complete failure to satisfy or meet someone's hopes or expectations.

profoundly miscarry

Suggests a deep and significant failure, often in the context of plans or projects.

seriously backfire

Implies that an action has had the opposite of its intended effect, resulting in failure.

demonstrably flounder

Focuses on how someone is struggling to achieve something.

substantially misfire

Emphasizes a failure to deliver the intended outcome.

absolutely bomb

Focuses on complete destruction of an event.

spectacularly tank

Highlights how something has decreased in quality.

FAQs

How can I use "fundamentally fail" in a sentence?

You can use "fundamentally fail" to describe something that is inherently flawed and destined to fail, such as, "The project's design was so flawed that it was bound to fundamentally fail."

What's a good alternative to "fundamentally fail"?

Alternatives include phrases like "completely fall short", "utterly collapse" or "radically underperform". Consider what aspect of the failure you want to emphasize when selecting your alternative.

Is it okay to use "fundamentally fail" in formal writing?

Yes, "fundamentally fail" is appropriate for formal writing. It's a clear and direct way to express a significant failure, as shown by its use in news and media.

What does it mean when something "fundamentally fails"?

When something "fundamentally fails", it means the failure stems from a basic flaw in its structure, concept, or execution. It's not just a minor issue, but a core problem that causes the breakdown. It means it "completely falls short" of its intended goal.