totally failed

USAGE SUMMARY

"totally failed" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe a situation where something or someone has completely and utterly failed. It adds emphasis to the failure and suggests that there is no room for success or redemption. Example: Despite months of preparation and practice, the team totally failed in the championship game, losing by a landslide.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It has totally failed.

The Guardian

"This demonstrates that they have totally failed.

The New York Times - Sports

"The government here has totally failed.

The New York Times

But it totally failed to communicate them.

The Guardian - Tech

A "transition federal government" has totally failed to impose itself.

The Economist

"I totally failed to grasp what it meant".

The New York Times

Our system of 'realistic' business leadership has totally failed".

The Guardian

I totally failed to realize what I didn't know".

The New Yorker

Integration has totally failed".The National Front is playing a patient game.

The Economist

The effort to blame Narendra Modi has totally failed and ultimately truth has prevailed".

The New York Times

They totally failed to reform Freddie Mac and Fannie and fought every attempt to reign them in.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "totally failed" to emphasize a complete and utter lack of success, especially when previous efforts or expectations existed.

Common error

Avoid using "totally failed" when the context suggests a partial or minor setback. Reserve it for scenarios where the outcome is unequivocally unsuccessful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "totally failed" functions as an intensifier (totally) modifying a verb (failed). According to Ludwig AI, it describes a complete lack of success. Examples from Ludwig show its use across diverse subjects like politics, technology, and personal experiences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "totally failed" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to denote a complete lack of success. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions as an adverb-verb construction to emphasize the extent of the failure. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media, academic, and scientific contexts, and carries a neutral to slightly formal tone. While effective for highlighting utter lack of success, overuse in scenarios with just minor setbacks should be avoided. Related phrases like "utterly failed" and "completely failed" offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utterly failed

Emphasizes the completeness and finality of the failure.

completely failed

Highlights that the failure was absolute and without any success.

entirely failed

Suggests that every aspect or part of the effort failed.

absolutely failed

Adds a strong emphasis to the failure, indicating no doubt about it.

thoroughly failed

Indicates that the failure was comprehensive and exhaustive.

definitely failed

Confirms the failure without any ambiguity or uncertainty.

flatly failed

Highlights that the failure was blunt and direct.

patently failed

Implies the failure was obvious and easily recognizable.

signally failed

Emphasizes the conspicuousness of the failure.

dismally failed

Indicates the failure was depressing and disheartening.

FAQs

How to use "totally failed" in a sentence?

Use "totally failed" to describe an action, plan, or system that has been completely unsuccessful. For example, "The strategy to increase sales "totally failed" because it did not account for market changes."

What can I say instead of "totally failed"?

You can use alternatives like "utterly failed", "completely failed", or "entirely failed" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "totally failed" or "complete failed"?

"Totally failed" is the correct and more commonly used phrase. "Complete failed" is grammatically incorrect. However you can say "completely failed" as well as "total failure".

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

"Totally failed" means there was absolutely no success, while "partially failed" indicates some degree of success but not complete fulfillment of the goal.