is bound to fail

USAGE SUMMARY

"is bound to fail" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express the idea that something is very likely to fail. For example, "Without the right training, the project is bound to fail."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is bound to fail.

The Economist

The referendum is bound to fail.

The Economist

It is bound to fail eventually.

The New York Times

But this is bound to fail, says Seppälä.

University of California, Berkeley

The technology is bound to fail on the day anyway.

The Guardian

Everything I try with you lot is bound to fail.

The Guardian - Film

Thus, any science-based argument is bound to fail.

The Washington Post

The dumb utopianism of inclusiveness is bound to fail.

Independent

But, of course, the system is bound to fail sometimes.

The New York Times

"Every tale is bound to fail", the author wails.

Independent

In the meantime, this piecemeal approach is bound to fail.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is bound to fail" when you want to express a strong conviction that something will not succeed, based on your understanding of the situation and contributing factors. Back up your claim with evidence or reasoning to strengthen your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "is bound to fail" excessively without providing sufficient reasoning or evidence. Overusing it can weaken your argument and make you sound overly pessimistic or dismissive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is bound to fail" functions as a predictive expression, indicating a strong belief or assessment that a particular action, plan, or system will not succeed. As Ludwig AI explains, it expresses the idea that something is very likely to fail.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "is bound to fail" is a grammatically correct and widely used phrase to express a strong conviction that something will not succeed. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It's most frequently found in News & Media and Academic contexts with a neutral register. When using the phrase, ensure you have solid reasoning or evidence to support your claim. Consider alternatives like "is destined to fail" or "is likely to fail" depending on the desired level of emphasis. Overusing this phrase without justification can weaken your argument, so be sure to use it judiciously.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is destined to fail

This alternative suggests a predetermined outcome of failure, emphasizing fate or inevitability.

is certain to fail

This alternative highlights the confidence in the prediction of failure, suggesting a high degree of certainty.

is sure to fail

Similar to 'is certain to fail', this emphasizes the speaker's conviction that failure is inevitable.

is going to fail

This is a more informal and direct way of expressing the expectation of failure.

will inevitably fail

This alternative emphasizes the unavoidable nature of the failure, suggesting a lack of control over the outcome.

is doomed to failure

This phrase suggests a grim and unavoidable outcome, implying a lack of hope for success.

is set up to fail

This alternative implies that the situation is arranged in a way that makes failure highly probable.

cannot succeed

This phrase indicates an impossibility of achieving success, highlighting inherent limitations.

has no chance of success

This suggests a very low probability of success, emphasizing the lack of favorable conditions.

is a recipe for disaster

This phrase implies that the situation has a high probability to trigger a failure.

FAQs

How can I use "is bound to fail" in a sentence?

You can use "is bound to fail" to express a strong belief that something will not succeed. For example, "A strategy that ignores market realities "is bound to fail"."

What can I say instead of "is bound to fail"?

You can use alternatives like "is destined to fail", "is certain to fail", or "is sure to fail" depending on the context.

Is it too strong to say something "is bound to fail"?

The phrase conveys a strong conviction, so reserve it for situations where you have solid reasoning or evidence to support your prediction. Otherwise, consider milder alternatives like "is likely to fail".

What's the difference between "is likely to fail" and "is bound to fail"?

"Is likely to fail" suggests a high probability of failure, whereas "is bound to fail" implies near certainty, often due to inherent flaws or unfavorable circumstances.