sure to underperform

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sure to underperform" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a strong expectation that something will not meet performance standards or expectations. Example: "Given the lack of preparation and resources, this project is sure to underperform compared to our previous initiatives."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

For those in retirement, this is a sure way to underperform the market and often lose money.

The New York Times

If the employee continues to underperform, be sure they understand that improvements must match benchmarks or the employee will be fired.

WikiHow

Sure enough, funds that have relatively large positions (which move prices more) and that trade frequently tend to underperform.

The Economist

Wealth management continued to underperform.

The Economist

This leads them to underperform.

The New York Times

He downgraded Countrywide's rating to underperform.

The New York Times

No wonder most managers seem to underperform.

Harvard Business Review

Meanwhile, international markets continued to underperform.

Harvard Business Review

Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Stand & Poor and others downgraded the company to "underperform" and "negative" ratings.

The Guardian

Those costs doom the fund managers to underperform.

The Economist

Piper Jaffray, the Credit Suisse Group, Jefferies & Company and RBC Capital Markets also lowered their ratings to underperform.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sure to underperform" when you want to strongly suggest a likely negative outcome or failure to meet expectations. Ensure the context clearly indicates what the subject is expected to perform poorly in.

Common error

Avoid using "sure to underperform" when the outcome is merely uncertain or speculative. Overusing the phrase can weaken your argument if the situation does not clearly point toward underperformance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sure to underperform" functions as a predictive expression, suggesting a strong expectation that something will not meet its performance goals. According to Ludwig AI, this implies a confident forecast of negative outcomes based on current conditions or inherent flaws.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "sure to underperform" is a predictive expression indicating a strong belief that something will not meet its expected performance level. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and suitable for a range of contexts, including professional, news, and even retirement planning. While not extremely common, its usage is straightforward—use it to express a confident, negative forecast. Remember to use it only when you have real facts that support the assumption otherwise it may be perceived as speculation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bound to disappoint

Replaces "underperform" with a more general term for failing to meet expectations.

destined to fall short

Emphasizes the inevitability of not reaching the desired level.

certain to fail

Uses a stronger term, "fail", to indicate a higher degree of negative outcome.

guaranteed to do poorly

Replaces "underperform" with a more descriptive phrase about poor performance.

likely to underachieve

Substitutes "underperform" with "underachieve", focusing on not meeting potential.

sure to be substandard

Focuses on the result being below the expected quality or standard.

fated to flounder

Uses a more metaphorical term, "flounder", to suggest struggling and failing.

will inevitably disappoint

Highlights the unavoidable nature of the disappointing result.

slated for mediocrity

Indicates that the outcome is predetermined to be average or unexceptional.

poised to regress

Implies a movement backward from a current state, rather than simply failing to improve.

FAQs

How can I use "sure to underperform" in a sentence?

Use "sure to underperform" to express a high degree of certainty that something will not meet expectations. For example, "Without adequate resources, this project is "sure to underperform"".

What are some alternatives to saying "sure to underperform"?

You can use alternatives such as "bound to disappoint", "destined to fall short", or "likely to underachieve" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "sure to underperform"?

It is appropriate when you have strong evidence or reason to believe that something will not perform well. For example, "A company with outdated technology is "sure to underperform" in a competitive market".

What's the difference between "sure to underperform" and "likely to underperform"?

"Sure to underperform" indicates a higher degree of certainty than "likely to underperform". "Sure" suggests near certainty, while "likely" implies a strong probability but not absolute certainty.