is doomed to be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is doomed to be" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing an event or situation that appears to have an inevitable outcome, often one that is not desirable. For example: "The village was doomed to be taken over by the invading army."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Such an exercise is doomed to be imprecise.

The Economist

Today's great hope is doomed to be tomorrow's disappointment.

The Guardian

As someone who despises postmodernism, Serena is doomed to be caught in its toils.

The Guardian - Books

The tragedy of their romance is that it is doomed to be barren from the start.

The Guardian - Film

And yet if Leslie doesn't get a clue, every episode is doomed to be more or less the same.

The New Yorker

So now, in debates, he is doomed to be Annoying Boy, apple-polishing and doing that smug-mugging.

The New York Times

It also suggests that the spinoff is doomed to be even sillier and more sex-obsessed than the original.

The New York Times - Arts

Bob Hamman is doomed to be remembered as the businessman who lost a $7.5 million settlement to Lance Armstrong.

The New York Times - Sports

America, he thinks, is doomed to be consigned, like western Europe, to "an era of tourism and shopkeeping".

The Guardian - Books

There is something about the phrase Anglo-French co-operation that is doomed to be forever a contradiction in terms.

The Guardian - Opinion

Anything that passes beyond the event horizon is doomed to be crushed as it descends ever deeper into the gravitational well of the black hole.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is doomed to be" to convey a strong sense of inevitable and usually negative outcomes. It's effective for emphasizing the futility of resisting a particular course of events. For example, "Without significant changes, the project is doomed to be unsuccessful."

Common error

Avoid using "is doomed to be" when a less dramatic phrase would suffice. Overusing it can weaken its impact and make your writing sound overly pessimistic. Consider alternatives like "is likely to be" or "is predicted to be" in more neutral scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is doomed to be" functions as a predicative expression, indicating that the subject is certain to experience a negative or undesirable future state. Ludwig provides examples that show it's used to express inevitability and often a lack of control over the outcome.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

18%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is doomed to be" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that conveys a strong sense of inevitable, typically negative outcomes. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage for describing situations with an unavoidable and undesirable conclusion. As exemplified by Ludwig, its primary function is to express a pessimistic prediction, often found in news, scientific, and academic contexts. While versatile, overuse can diminish its impact, so consider related phrases like "is destined to become" or "is likely to be" to ensure appropriate tone and avoid overly dramatic language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

will inevitably be

Highlights the unavoidable nature of the future state.

is destined to become

Replaces "doomed" with "destined", implying a predetermined future, but can be neutral or positive depending on context.

is bound to be

Indicates a strong likelihood based on current circumstances.

is certain to be

Emphasizes certainty and inevitability, focusing on the assured outcome.

is fated to be

Implies a predetermined destiny, often with a sense of tragedy or resignation.

is sure to end up

Focuses on the eventual result, suggesting a lack of control over the outcome.

will certainly turn out

Highlights the assured final state of the subject.

is going to be

A more informal way to express a future outcome with a sense of inevitability, though less forceful than "doomed".

is predicted to be

Focuses on the aspect of forecasting the situation.

is likely to be

Indicates a high probability of a specific outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "is doomed to be" in a sentence?

Use "is doomed to be" to express a strong sense of inevitability, usually with a negative connotation. For example, "That strategy is doomed to be ineffective if key stakeholders don't support it."

What can I say instead of "is doomed to be"?

You can use alternatives like "is destined to become", "is certain to be", or "will inevitably be" depending on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "is doomed to be" or "is destined to be"?

Both "is doomed to be" and "is destined to be" are correct, but they carry different connotations. "Is doomed to be" implies a negative, unavoidable outcome, while "is destined to be" suggests a predetermined future that may not necessarily be negative.

What's the difference between "is doomed to be" and "is likely to be"?

"Is doomed to be" implies a strong sense of negative inevitability, suggesting failure is unavoidable. "Is likely to be" simply suggests a high probability of a particular outcome, without the same sense of impending disaster.