unequivocal failure

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unequivocal failure" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or outcome that is clearly and undeniably a failure without any ambiguity. Example: "The project was an unequivocal failure, leading to significant financial losses for the company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

It was his first unequivocal failure.

The Guardian

On Sunday night, though, he made a move that was an unequivocal failure.

Huffington Post

Franken mocked controversial NBC president Fred Silverman as "a total unequivocal failure" and displayed a chart showing the poor ratings of NBC programs.

Wikipedia

McCain's reliance on angry, negative, personal attacks on Obama -- including the pathetic Ayers smear and ACORN "destroying the fabric of democracy" -- has been an unequivocal failure, with the poll numbers to prove it.

Huffington Post

There would be nothing to quibble about in a total and unequivocal failure of Republican doctrine, played out on Wall Street as well as Main Street, as it would.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Let us send a clear and unequivocal signal that failure to act will have consequences at the ballot box for politicians and for the bottom line of businesses.

Huffington Post

Who could oppose "cutting the bills of social failure"; the unequivocal pledge on education; a commitment to be tough on crime and its causes; and early intervention to ensure every child mattered?

The Guardian

Perhaps the most unequivocal measure of the failure of both versions of the ASR hip is their high revision rate (i.e. the need to re-operate).

BMC Medical Ethics

This means that it is difficult to document unequivocal cases of treatment failure in areas where resistance is emerging, but any P. vivax infection that occurs within 28 days after the start of CQ treatment, whether recrudescence, relapse, or new infection, has grown through residual CQ concentrations in blood.

Clinical Infectious Diseases

For instance, the appearance of a signal in the cervical lymph nodes of mice exposed to spores of luminescent Bacillus anthracis can take from 2 to 4 days, but it is an unequivocal sign of a failure in the host innate immune response that leads to dissemination and death (Loving et al., 2009).

FEMS Microbiology Reviews

Michael Barnett I am disgusted by your failure to give an unequivocal "No" to Bush on any UK involvement in the missile defence strategy.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unequivocal failure" to emphasize the completeness and lack of ambiguity in a failure, making it clear that there is no room for doubt or interpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "unequivocal failure" when a more nuanced term like "setback" or "partial failure" would be more appropriate. The phrase is strongest when the failure is blatant and undeniable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unequivocal failure" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "unequivocal" modifies the noun "failure". It describes a failure that is clear, undeniable, and admits no doubt. Ludwig examples showcase its use in various contexts to emphasize the decisiveness of the failure.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unequivocal failure" is a phrase used to describe a situation or outcome that is clearly and undeniably a failure, leaving no room for doubt. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is grammatically correct and can be used in written English to emphasize a complete and unambiguous failure. While relatively rare in overall usage, the phrase is most frequently found in News & Media, Science, and Wiki contexts. Related phrases such as "categorical failure" and "clear failure" can be used as alternatives, depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. However, be mindful of overuse and ensure the context warrants such a strong and definitive term.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

categorical failure

Replaces "unequivocal" with "categorical", implying a complete and absolute failure.

clear failure

Uses "clear" instead of "unequivocal", suggesting an easily recognizable failure.

straightforward failure

Substitutes "unequivocal" with "straightforward", highlighting the lack of complication or ambiguity in the failure.

unequivocal defeat

Replaces "failure" with "defeat", emphasizing the loss or vanquishment aspect of the failure.

incontrovertible failure

Uses "incontrovertible" instead of "unequivocal", stressing the indisputable nature of the failure.

conclusive failure

Employs "conclusive" instead of "unequivocal", focusing on the definitive and decisive aspect of the failure.

explicit failure

Substitutes "unequivocal" with "explicit", highlighting the overt and direct nature of the failure.

undoubted failure

Replaces "unequivocal" with "undoubted", emphasizing the lack of doubt surrounding the failure.

unquestionable failure

Uses "unquestionable" instead of "unequivocal", indicating that the failure is beyond any question.

undeniable failure

Substitutes "unequivocal" with "undeniable", stressing that the failure cannot be denied or disputed.

FAQs

How to use "unequivocal failure" in a sentence?

You can use "unequivocal failure" to describe a situation or outcome that is clearly and undeniably a failure. For example, "The marketing campaign was an "unequivocal failure", resulting in a significant loss of investment."

What can I say instead of "unequivocal failure"?

You can use alternatives like "categorical failure", "clear failure", or "absolute failure" depending on the context.

Is "unequivocal failure" formal or informal?

"Unequivocal failure" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it is often found in more formal or analytical writing where precise language is valued.

Which is correct, "unequivocal failure" or "unclear failure"?

"Unequivocal failure" is correct. "Unclear failure" is contradictory, as "unequivocal" means clear and leaving no doubt, while "unclear" means the opposite.