outrageous failure

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "outrageous failure" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a failure that is shocking, unacceptable, or extreme in nature. Example: "The company's decision to ignore safety regulations resulted in an outrageous failure that endangered the lives of its employees."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

The "outrageous" failure thus far by Congress, as one commission member put it, to allocate radio spectrum space needed by first responders to avoid a repeat of the communications problems that cost many lives at ground zero.

The New York Times

"This represents an outrageous failure to plan for the future, and the government must urgently ensure that it makes funds available so that these carriers can enter service without delay," she said.

The Guardian

A wise old Sunderland supporter who has seen at least 20 managers come and go said he had identified three possible outcomes – outrageous success, outrageous failure or outrageous behaviour.

The Guardian - Sport

Baker has confessed that everything since has been "a muddle and a disappointment, an outrageous failure", and fear of typecasting led Eccleston to crash back to earth after just one series.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

However the search ends, it began with an outrageous failure, one that will have to be examined, along with the question of how any child with special needs, whether or not from a family that has the resources some do, is educated, helped, and kept safe in public schools.

The New Yorker

During a bruising session, Sturgeon was challenged by the Scottish Conservative leader, Ruth Davidson, about her government's "outrageous" failure to get a grip on the NHS, while Scottish Labour's Kezia Dugdale presented individual illustrations of what she described as the "human cost of a decade of SNP mismanagement".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Trade unions and shareholders complained, and Vincent Cable, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, called the payment an outrageous reward for failure.The row about Mr Applegarth grabbed the headlines, but the real cause for worry is what the report revealed about the bank's inner workings as it careered towards disaster last year.

The Economist

As recently as five years ago, the GMB was implicated in an outrageous equal-pay failure by Birmingham city council, where women on the same pay grade as men (cleaners v bin men, for instance) were earning far less (in the starkest example, a refuse collector took home more than £50,000 in one year, while women on the same level received less than £12,000).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Have people been award outrageous amounts for failure?

BBC

On-screen graphics that are little more than bullet-point statements giving a shorthand version of the candidate's vague policy or his opposition's outrageous congressional votes, failures to vote or nefarious campaign contributors.

The New York Times

Under circumstances of outrageous success or terrifying failure, our biology can overreact; and when this happens to traders and investors, they suffer an irrational exuberance or pessimism that can destabilize financial markets and wreak havoc on the wider economy.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "outrageous failure", consider the context to ensure the intensity of the adjective aligns with the severity of the failure. It's best suited for situations where the failure is not only significant but also morally or ethically questionable.

Common error

Avoid using "outrageous failure" to describe minor inconveniences or simple mistakes. This phrase is best reserved for situations where the failure has significant and potentially harmful consequences. Overusing it can dilute its impact and make your writing sound hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "outrageous failure" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where the adjective "outrageous" modifies the noun "failure". As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to describe a situation where something has gone wrong in a way that is considered shocking or unacceptable. It emphasizes the magnitude and moral implications of the failure.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "outrageous failure" is a noun phrase used to describe a failure that is shocking, unacceptable, or morally reprehensible. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically sound and appropriate for use in written English. It is commonly found in news and media contexts, where its purpose is to express strong disapproval and condemnation. While it is generally neutral in register, the emotional connotation of "outrageous" makes it less suitable for highly formal contexts. Alternative phrases include "egregious mistake" and "shocking debacle". When using this phrase, it's important to ensure the intensity aligns with the severity of the failure to avoid sounding hyperbolic.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

egregious mistake

Replaces "failure" with "mistake" and "outrageous" with "egregious", indicating a severe error.

shocking debacle

Uses "debacle" instead of "failure" to emphasize the disastrous nature, while "shocking" replaces "outrageous" to highlight the surprise or disbelief.

scandalous mismanagement

Replaces "failure" with "mismanagement", focusing on the process rather than the outcome, and "outrageous" with "scandalous", suggesting moral reprehensibility.

appalling incompetence

Substitutes "failure" with "incompetence", highlighting the lack of skill, and "outrageous" with "appalling", intensifying the negative judgment.

blatant deficiency

Uses "deficiency" instead of "failure" to point out a specific lack, and "blatant" replaces "outrageous" to emphasize the obviousness of the shortcoming.

unacceptable deficiency

Substitutes "outrageous" with "unacceptable", focusing on how problematic the failing is.

monstrous blunder

Replaces "failure" with "blunder", indicating a careless mistake, and "outrageous" with "monstrous", amplifying the scale of the error.

gross negligence

Substitutes "failure" with "negligence", indicating an extreme lack of care.

abysmal performance

Uses "performance" instead of "failure" to focus on the execution, and "abysmal" replaces "outrageous" to describe the extremely poor quality.

atrocious result

Replaces "failure" with "result" to denote an outcome, and "outrageous" with "atrocious" to convey the severity and unpleasantness of the outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "outrageous failure" in a sentence?

You can use "outrageous failure" to describe a situation where a failure is not only significant but also morally or ethically questionable. For example, "The company's neglect of safety protocols led to an "outrageous failure" that endangered many lives."

What are some alternatives to "outrageous failure"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "egregious mistake", "shocking debacle", or "scandalous mismanagement".

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "outrageous failure"?

Use "outrageous failure" when you want to emphasize the shocking, unacceptable, or morally reprehensible nature of a failure. It's suitable for situations involving significant consequences and ethical concerns.

Is "outrageous failure" a formal or informal expression?

The phrase "outrageous failure" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it tends to appear more frequently in news reports and opinion pieces, where the emotional impact of the failure is being highlighted. The register leans towards neutral to slightly informal, depending on the surrounding text.