has proved disastrous

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has proved disastrous" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or action that has resulted in negative consequences or outcomes. Example: "The decision to cut funding for the project has proved disastrous, leading to significant delays and cost overruns."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

What liberals sought, in its place, has proved disastrous.

The New Yorker

Separating them from their children has proved disastrous.

The Washington Post

But having a system that does so much to misalign them has proved disastrous.

The New Yorker

Subordinating USAID's goals to the State Department's agenda also has proved disastrous in development work.

The Washington Post

The season has proved disastrous because Gill has been plagued by pain in his right knee.

The New York Times - Sports

For the carriers, in both long-distance and local business markets, freedom has proved disastrous.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

"The drug control regime that emerged during the last century has proven disastrous for global health, security and human rights," the letter states.

The Washington Post

But in Tasmania it has proven disastrous, with senior Aboriginal leaders privately conceding that it will only get much worse, expecting to see houses being burnt down.

The Guardian

President Bush is no longer talking about privatizing Social Security, and his free-market approach to rebuilding Iraq has proven disastrous.

The New York Times - Books

The global war on drugs has proven "disastrous" and "humankind cannot afford a 21st century drug policy as ineffective and counter-productive as the last century's". So say more than 1,000 world leaders, including 27 members of the House of Representatives and six U.S. senators, in a letter to the United Nations ahead of a major international drug summit happening this week.

The Washington Post

"The drug control regime that emerged during the last century has proven disastrous for global health, security and human rights," the letter reads.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "has proved disastrous," provide specific examples or evidence to support the claim. This adds credibility and clarifies the extent of the negative impact.

Common error

Avoid using "has proved disastrous" for minor inconveniences or slight setbacks. Save it for situations with genuinely severe negative outcomes to maintain its impact. Consider using "has turned out badly" or "has been a complete letdown" in less serious cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has proved disastrous" functions as a predicative adjective phrase. It follows a linking verb ("has proved") and describes the subject by attributing a characteristic (disastrous) to it. Ludwig examples support this.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has proved disastrous" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe scenarios that have resulted in significantly negative consequences. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. It is most commonly found in news and media, as well as formal business contexts. While both "proved" and "proven" are acceptable, "proved" is more prevalent in British English. When using this phrase, ensure that the context justifies the weight of the negative connotation and provide supporting evidence to enhance clarity and credibility. Consider alternatives like "has been a catastrophe" or "has resulted in failure" depending on the desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been a catastrophe

Replaces 'proved disastrous' with a stronger term emphasizing the severity of the negative outcome.

has proven to be a debacle

Replaces 'disastrous' with 'debacle', suggesting a humiliating failure.

has led to calamity

Replaces 'disastrous' with 'calamity', indicating a significant and sudden misfortune.

has ended in ruin

Implies a more complete and irreversible form of failure.

has resulted in failure

Focuses on the lack of success as the primary negative consequence.

has backfired spectacularly

Highlights the unexpected and prominent nature of the failure.

has been a major setback

Focuses on the hindering effect of the negative outcome on progress.

has turned out badly

Uses a simpler, more general term to describe the negative result.

has been a complete letdown

Emphasizes the disappointment associated with the unsuccessful outcome.

has fallen flat

Describes the outcome as lacking impact or success.

FAQs

How can I use "has proved disastrous" in a sentence?

Use "has proved disastrous" to describe situations or actions that have resulted in negative and impactful consequences. For example: "The company's decision to ignore safety regulations "has proved disastrous", leading to multiple accidents."

What are some alternatives to saying "has proved disastrous"?

You can use alternatives like "has been a catastrophe", "has resulted in failure", or "has led to calamity" depending on the context and the level of emphasis you want to convey.

Is it better to say "has proved disastrous" or "has proven disastrous"?

Both "has proved disastrous" and "has proven disastrous" are grammatically correct. The choice often depends on regional preference; "proved" is more common in British English, while "proven" is more common in American English.

What's the difference between "has proved disastrous" and "has been disappointing"?

"Has proved disastrous" indicates a severe negative outcome with significant consequences. "Has been disappointing" suggests a failure to meet expectations, but not necessarily a major or critical problem. "Has proved disastrous" carries a much stronger and more negative connotation.