ill-fated

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'ill-fated' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something or a situation that has an unfortunate outcome or that has a tendency to end badly. Example sentence: The ill-fated mission ended in disaster, leaving the astronauts stranded in outer space.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The plan was ill-fated.

The New Yorker

The job, alas, was ill-fated.

The New Yorker

(With ill-fated results for Icarus).

The New York Times - Arts

The deal proved to be ill-fated.

The New York Times

The story behind Ford's ill-fated car.

The New Yorker

Who led the ill-fated attack?

The New York Times

Their collaboration floundered over ill-fated projects.

The New York Times - Books

There was another ill-fated decision.

The New York Times

The ill-fated acquisition wound up costing Bavaria €3.7 billion.

The New York Times

The decision, however, turned out to be ill-fated.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

These experiments proved ill fated.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a business venture, choose alternatives such as "doomed to failure".

Common error

Avoid using "ill-fated" in situations that are merely inconvenient or slightly unlucky. It is more appropriate for serious or tragic events, using it to describe a failed lunch plan can sound overdramatic.

Linguistic Context

The adjective phrase "ill-fated" primarily functions as a pre-modifying adjective, describing a noun and indicating that the noun is destined for misfortune or a negative outcome. Ludwig AI confirms this usage, highlighting examples where "ill-fated" describes various nouns.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Science

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ill-fated" is an adjective used to describe something destined for misfortune or a negative outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in English, and it appears most frequently in News & Media. While grammatically sound, it's best used when describing serious or tragic events, and less appropriate in casual conversation. Alternatives include "doomed" and "unlucky". Its function is to convey a sense of impending doom, with a neutral to formal register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

doomed

Direct synonym emphasizing inevitable negative outcome.

ill-starred

Similar to "ill-fated", but with a more archaic feel.

unlucky

Focuses on the lack of good fortune.

unfortunate

A more general term for bad luck or negative circumstances.

fated for disaster

Highlights the inevitable catastrophic result.

doomed to failure

Emphasizes the certainty of failure.

catastrophic

Emphasizes the disastrous nature of the outcome.

star-crossed

Often used in romantic contexts, implying fate is against the individuals.

jinxed

Suggests a curse or spell is causing bad luck.

unsuccessful

A neutral term indicating a lack of success.

FAQs

How to use "ill-fated" in a sentence?

Use "ill-fated" to describe something destined for a negative outcome, like "The "ill-fated voyage" ended in tragedy".

What can I say instead of "ill-fated"?

You can use alternatives like "doomed", "unlucky", or "unfortunate" depending on the context.

Is "ill-fated" formal or informal?

"Ill-fated" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is generally more common in writing and formal speech, for example in News & Media.

What's the difference between "ill-fated" and "unfortunate"?

"Ill-fated" suggests a sense of destiny or inevitability in the negative outcome, while "unfortunate" simply indicates bad luck or an undesirable situation.