made to fail

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "made to fail" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or system that is designed or structured in such a way that it leads to failure. Example: "The project was poorly planned and ultimately made to fail from the start due to lack of resources."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Machines can be made to fail.

The New Yorker

The S.E.C.'s lawsuit accused Goldman of creating mortgage investments that were made to fail.

The New York Times

Any progressive idea can be made to fail if the people in charge don't support it.

Harvard Business Review

Any structure or component can be made to fail if it is subjected to loadings in excess of its strength.

Engineering Failure Analysis

According to Bush doctrine, Hamas, though freely and fairly elected, must now be destabilized and made to fail.

The New York Times

Meanwhile, as the actual Spirit of Dear Little Leader Kim Jong Un Peace Missiles Peace Missile was successfully launched, a second, identical-looking "decoy" missile was deliberately made to fail spectacularly (a top-secret hush-hush plan to fool hostile foreign powers into thinking D.P.R.K. scientists are substandard).

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

According to Hollywood marketing law, Shawshank was a film tailor-made to fail, and it did just that - at least in cinemas.

The Guardian - Film

Make it okay to fail.

Harvard Business Review

Maneesh Sethi explains how to make it impossible to fail: "The secret is called precommitment.

The New York Times

We are afraid to make mistakes and to fail.

Huffington Post

We're happy to make work that appears to fail.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "made to fail", ensure the context clearly indicates whether the failure was intentional or unintentional. Specify who or what caused the failure for clarity.

Common error

Avoid assuming intentionality when using "made to fail" without sufficient evidence. Accusations of deliberate sabotage should be substantiated to avoid misrepresentation or legal issues.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made to fail" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that something or someone was caused to be unsuccessful. As Ludwig AI indicates, this highlights an external influence leading to a negative outcome.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "made to fail" is a versatile verb phrase used to describe situations where something is set up for inevitable failure. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used. It frequently appears in contexts such as "News & Media" and "Science", implying a neutral register suitable for various formal and informal settings. While alternatives like "destined to fail" or "set up to fail" offer similar meanings, "made to fail" specifically emphasizes the action or process that leads to the unsuccessful outcome. When using this phrase, ensure that you make clear if the failure was intentional or not.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

destined to fail

Emphasizes inevitability of failure due to fate or inherent flaws.

designed for failure

Highlights intentional planning that leads to failure.

doomed to failure

Implies a grim, unavoidable destiny resulting in failure.

set up to fail

Suggests external forces or circumstances orchestrate the failure.

engineered to fail

Indicates precise, calculated steps taken to ensure failure.

predetermined to fail

Conveys that the outcome of failure was decided in advance.

constructed to fail

Focuses on the building or assembling of something with inherent flaws causing failure.

built to collapse

Similar to "constructed to fail", but with a focus on structural integrity.

programmed to fail

Suggests that something is intrinsically prepared or organized so it will fail.

fated to collapse

Highlights something that cannot be saved, usually an organization.

FAQs

How can I use "made to fail" in a sentence?

You can use "made to fail" to describe a situation or system designed for failure, such as, "The project was poorly planned and ultimately "made to fail" from the start."

What's a good substitute for "made to fail"?

Alternatives include "destined to fail", "designed for failure", or "set up to fail", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "made to fail" formal or informal?

"Made to fail" can be used in both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding language and the specific situation than on the phrase itself.

What does it mean when something is described as "made to fail"?

When something is described as "made to fail", it means the conditions were such that failure was a highly probable, if not inevitable, outcome. This could be due to intentional sabotage, negligence, or systemic issues.