thoroughly failed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thoroughly failed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a complete or total failure in a particular task or endeavor. Example: "Despite their best efforts, the project thoroughly failed to meet the expectations set by the stakeholders."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

She also said she harbored no ill feelings about a criminal justice system that thoroughly failed her.

The New York Times

Chonghou had so thoroughly failed as a peacemaker that the only thing keeping him alive was the threat of war.One man's life hung in the balance.

The Economist

While we have had basic liberties and precarious growth, our leaders have thoroughly failed to ease this country's poverty and longstanding social divide.

The New York Times

Knowing abstractly that her host's son had died, she finds herself "horrified by small things — a desk, a globe, a knife — fearing they might have come into play somehow in a story that she had so thoroughly failed to understand".

The New York Times - Books

In the most bizarre, roundabout way possible, the AT had done for Joe what two stints in prison had thoroughly failed to do: rehabilitate him.

Vice

Future historians will marvel at how U.S. leaders so thoroughly failed to learn from their horrific mistakes and crimes in Indochina, and have instead repeated so many of them today in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

The biblical Lazarus, of course, didn't actually stay dead; Bowie's musical of the same name was a sequel of sorts to The Man Who Fell to Earth, in which an alien thoroughly fails to assimilate on Earth.

The Guardian - Music

If you look closely at the tactical vests that so thoroughly fail to protect many of the characters in Ridley Scott's new film, "Alien: Covenant," you may notice their distinctive pattern of two-inch-wide vertical quilting.

The New Yorker

The analysis indicated that most of expressions cannot describe brittle failure characteristics of rock efficiently and either partially or thoroughly fail to correctly address the impact of stress state on rock brittleness.

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

Even if the intervention arm was described thoroughly, TAU failed to be described in any depth.

BMC Family Practice

You could say the essential feature of the trilogy is not what it takes from its precursors, but how thoroughly it fails to apply it.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "thoroughly failed", ensure the context clearly establishes what was expected to succeed. This emphasizes the magnitude of the failure.

Common error

Avoid using "thoroughly failed" to describe minor setbacks or easily recoverable situations. The phrase is most impactful when describing a complete and irreversible failure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thoroughly failed" functions as a descriptor, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate the degree and completeness of failure. This phrase is used to emphasize that something has not just failed, but has done so comprehensively. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

27%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "thoroughly failed" is a grammatically sound phrase used to emphatically describe a complete lack of success. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it carries a neutral register suitable for diverse applications. While not the most frequent expression, it effectively conveys the magnitude of a failure. Consider using synonyms like "completely unsuccessful" or "utterly unsuccessful" for variety. Ensure that the context warrants the use of such a strong expression, reserving it for situations where the failure is indeed comprehensive.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely unsuccessful

Focuses on the lack of success, implying a total absence of positive outcome.

utterly unsuccessful

Emphasizes the completeness of the failure, similar to "thoroughly".

entirely unsuccessful

Stresses that the failure affects every aspect of the attempt.

absolutely failed

Highlights the definitive nature of the failure, leaving no room for partial success.

totally failed

Indicates a failure in all aspects and to the highest degree.

roundly failed

Suggests a failure that is comprehensive and widely acknowledged.

unequivocally failed

Emphasizes that there is no doubt or ambiguity about the failure.

decidedly failed

Implies a clear and noticeable failure.

flatly failed

Indicates a direct and absolute failure, with no excuses or mitigation.

patently failed

Conveys that the failure is obvious and easily apparent.

FAQs

How can I use "thoroughly failed" in a sentence?

Use "thoroughly failed" to emphasize a complete lack of success, as in, "The company's new marketing strategy "thoroughly failed" to attract new customers".

What are some alternatives to "thoroughly failed"?

You can use alternatives like "completely unsuccessful", "utterly unsuccessful", or "absolutely failed" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "thoroughly failed" formal or informal?

"Thoroughly failed" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it's more commonly found in news and analytical writing due to its emphatic nature.

What's the difference between "thoroughly failed" and "partially failed"?

"Thoroughly failed" indicates a complete lack of success, while "partially failed" suggests some aspects were successful. They represent opposite ends of the success-failure spectrum.