missed badly

USAGE SUMMARY

'missed badly' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe how someone failed to do something. For example, "He missed his mark badly and failed to make the shot."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He will be missed badly".

Independent

He's missed badly a few times.

The Guardian - Sport

McGregor looked for overhand lefts, and missed badly several times.

The Guardian - Sport

But, like the Nets' shots all night, Jefferson's missed badly.

The New York Times - Sports

It missed badly, and the 76ers grabbed the rebound.

The New York Times - Sports

Al-Farouq Aminu took one more 3, but it missed badly.

The New York Times - Sports

Posada said Marte missed badly on his location on both pitches.

The New York Times - Sports

Kansas State's Shane Southwell missed badly on a jumper with one second left.

The New York Times - Sports

Abe missed badly on a breaking ball, stranding the runner, and Puerto Rico preserved its lead.

The New York Times - Sports

The Huskies (34-3), trying for a fourth trip to the Final Four, missed badly.

The New York Times - Sports

The next time down the court, her long 3-point attempt missed badly.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "missed badly" to emphasize the extent of a failure, particularly when describing attempts at a specific goal such as in sports or predictions. This phrase conveys a clear and immediate sense of inadequacy.

Common error

While "missed badly" is widely understood, avoid overuse in highly formal writing where more precise or sophisticated language might be preferable. Consider alternatives like "erred significantly" or "fell far short"/s/fell+far+short for a more nuanced tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "missed badly" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb to indicate the extent or degree of failure. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a standard expression for describing how someone failed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "missed badly" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adverbial phrase that emphasizes the degree of failure. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its usability across different writing contexts. While suitable for many situations, particularly news and media, it may be less appropriate for highly formal or technical writing, where more precise alternatives like "erred significantly" or "fell far short" might be preferable. Its frequency is high, with usage primarily concentrated in news and media sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was completely off

Highlights being incorrect and not aligned to what was expected.

got it completely wrong

Emphasizes the total lack of accuracy or correctness in the action or assessment.

failed miserably

Emphasizes the abject nature of the failure, adding an emotional layer of disappointment or inadequacy.

was way off the mark

Implies a significant deviation from the intended target or goal, often used in a figurative sense.

erred significantly

Indicates a substantial error in judgment or action, shifting the focus to the act of erring itself.

fell far short

Highlights the extent to which the outcome deviated from the desired goal or expectation.

miscalculated severely

Focuses on the incorrect calculation or estimation that led to the undesirable outcome.

blundered terribly

Suggests a clumsy or foolish error, indicating a lack of skill or care in the action.

bombed spectacularly

Suggests a complete and very obvious failure. Adds a dramatic flair.

floundered considerably

Highlights the struggling or stumbling nature of the failure, suggesting a lack of control or competence.

FAQs

How can I use "missed badly" in a sentence?

You can use "missed badly" to describe a significant failure. For example: "He "missed badly" on the free throw", or "The company "missed badly" with its sales forecast".

What are some alternatives to saying "missed badly"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "failed miserably", "fell far short", or "was completely off" as alternatives to "missed badly".

Is "missed badly" grammatically correct?

Yes, "missed badly" is grammatically correct. It's an adverbial phrase where "missed" is a verb and "badly" is an adverb modifying the verb.

When is it appropriate to use "missed badly"?

"Missed badly" is appropriate in many contexts, particularly when you want to emphasize the degree of failure or inaccuracy. However, in highly formal or technical writing, consider more precise alternatives.