minimally successful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "minimally successful" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or outcome that has achieved only a small degree of success, often implying that more could have been accomplished. Example: "The project was minimally successful, meeting only a few of the initial goals set by the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

The U.S. and Israel walked out, taking with them any hope that the conference would be even minimally successful.

The New York Times

That message of confrontation and violence was echoed in Weatherman's signs and slogans, which read, "Bring the war home" and "The time has come for fighting in the streets". However, "Days of Rage" proved to be only minimally successful.

Britannica

A minimally successful end to the Afghan war depends on weakening the Taliban militarily and helping Afghanistan build up a government that won't implode as soon as American troops are gone.

The New York Times

Unfortunately, until the oligarchs who still control many Latin American countries have been convinced to make significant institutional reforms to reduce the pressures on their countrymen to emigrate to the United States, our own efforts at immigration reform will be only minimally successful.

The New York Times

According to a Government Accountability Office report in June, of employees below senior levels, 38.6percentt were rated in 2013 at the top level, outstanding, 35.1percentt as exceeds fully successful, 25.5percentt as fully successful, 0.4percentt as minimally successful, and 0.1percentt as unacceptable.

The Washington Post

According to a separate OPM report from September, 48.8percentt of the 6,500 career executives were rated as outstanding in 2015, another 41.4percentt as exceeds fully successful, 9.4percentt as fully successful, and 0.3percentt as either minimally successful or unacceptable.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Therefore, we may minimally anticipate successful cleavage at the MNV NS3NS4 and NS6NS7 boundaries, both of which have glutamine in the P1 position.

Biochemical Journal

To develop a valid and reliable survey to measure surgical team members' perceptions regarding their institution's requirements for successful minimally invasive surgery (MIS).

Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology

Our treatment technique in this case was unique (minimally invasive) and successful.

F1000Research

The presented planning and simulation of the trajectories are the first, necessary steps to successful minimally invasive multiport surgery of the otobasis.

BioMed Research International

Based on experimental rabbit models (Ghanem et al. 2009, Widmann et al. 2010, Moon et al. 2012), epiphysiodesis using radio-frequency ablation (RFA) is a successful minimally invasive method.

Acta Orthopaedica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "minimally successful", clarify the specific areas or aspects where the success was limited. This provides context and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "minimally successful" when the outcome was a complete failure. Reserve this phrase for situations where some progress or positive results were achieved, however small.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "minimally successful" functions primarily as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. Ludwig AI shows it describes the degree to which something has achieved its intended goal, indicating only a slight or limited positive outcome. It's used to temper expectations or express a subdued level of achievement.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

29%

Science

29%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "minimally successful" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase for describing something that has achieved a slight degree of success. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriateness across various contexts. While not highly frequent, it appears consistently in reputable sources like The New York Times and academic publications. To enhance clarity, specify the areas where success was limited and avoid using the phrase if there was no success. Alternatives such as "slightly successful" or "barely successful" can be used to convey similar meanings depending on the nuances you intend to express.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly successful

Emphasizes a small degree of success, suggesting a marginal positive outcome.

barely successful

Highlights the narrow margin by which success was achieved.

marginally successful

Similar to slightly successful, but may imply a more limited or questionable level of success.

somewhat successful

Suggests that the outcome was partly positive but not entirely.

moderately successful

Indicates a level of success that is neither high nor low, staying in the middle.

partially successful

Specifically highlights that only a portion of the goal was achieved.

limited success

Focuses on the restriction or constraint of the success achieved.

not entirely successful

More explicitly conveys that success was not complete or total.

achieved limited results

Shifts the focus from success to the tangible outcomes of an action.

modest accomplishment

Emphasizes the humble or understated nature of the success.

FAQs

How can I use "minimally successful" in a sentence?

You can use "minimally successful" to describe an action or project that achieved a small amount of success but did not fully meet its goals. For example, "The marketing campaign was "minimally successful", generating only a slight increase in sales".

What are some alternatives to "minimally successful"?

Alternatives include "slightly successful", "barely successful", or "somewhat successful". The best choice depends on the specific context and the degree of success you want to convey.

Is it better to say "minimally successful" or "not successful"?

"Minimally successful" implies some degree of positive outcome, however small. "Not successful" indicates a complete lack of success. Choose the phrase that most accurately reflects the result.

What is the difference between "minimally successful" and "completely successful"?

"Minimally successful" suggests a small degree of success, whereas "completely successful" indicates that all goals were fully achieved. They represent opposite ends of the success spectrum.