unsuccessful operation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unsuccessful operation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts such as medical procedures, computer processes, or any situation where an attempt to achieve a goal has failed. Example: "The surgeon reported that the operation was unsuccessful, and further treatment options would need to be considered."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Not long after her blank moment in the kitchen, she has an unsuccessful operation and becomes bedridden.

The New Yorker

John concedes that Ike committed some mistakes, such as backing the unsuccessful operation in 1944 made famous in "A Bridge Too Far".

The New York Times - Books

The attack on 7 July killed 52 people and injured hundreds of others, but it was the second and unsuccessful operation on 21 July that presented Blair with his greatest challenge.

The Guardian - Books

CIB itself is the subject of an internal investigation over allegations from Redgrave and Charman that it tried to "entrap" them in an unsuccessful operation mounted after the collapse of Operation Cornwall.

The Guardian

It is thought the reference to the rescue bid referred to an unsuccessful operation by American commandos in July, when they raided an oil refinery near the Syrian city of Raqqa, but did not find the hostages they had believed were being held there.

The Guardian

Bank records obtained by Australian media outlets show the payment was made by Nine on 22 January into a Swedish account named IPCA Limited, understood to belong to Adam Whittington, the British former detective who led the unsuccessful operation to abduct Faulkner's five and three-year-old children.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

That same year, however, she was diagnosed with a brain tumour, and, over the course of the next year, she underwent three unsuccessful operations.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Schoonbaert, nicknamed 'Lorre', has undergone 37 unsuccessful operations over the past 20 years, and under Belgium's liberal euthanasia laws, has agreed with doctors to tragically end his own life.

Independent

Bahrami, who has an electronics degree and worked in a medical engineering company before the attack, moved to Spain with the help of the Iranian government where she has undergone a series of unsuccessful operations.

The Guardian

This new risk assessment illustrates that apparent continuous CIP operation is actually a mix of successful and unsuccessful operations.

Chemical Engineering Science

After 21 weeks of being wrongly-prescribed antibiotics and two unsuccessful operations he visited Dr. Esho.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing medical procedures, use more specific terms like "failed surgery" or "ineffective treatment" to provide clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "unsuccessful operation" when a more precise term like "failed marketing campaign" or "abortive rescue attempt" would be more appropriate for the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unsuccessful operation" functions primarily as a descriptive adjective modifying the noun "operation". It indicates that a particular operation, whether medical, military, or otherwise, did not achieve its intended goals. Ludwig AI shows examples across varied contexts, confirming its versatility.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unsuccessful operation" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase for denoting the failure of a particular operation or procedure. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and versatile. Its neutral register allows for broad applicability across various contexts, including news, science, and general discourse. While direct synonyms like "failed operation" exist, the choice of alternative phrasing should be guided by the specific context. Whether describing a surgical procedure or a military campaign, this expression concisely communicates the lack of desired outcome.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

failed operation

Direct synonym, replacing "unsuccessful" with "failed" for brevity.

abortive operation

Uses "abortive" to emphasize premature termination or failure.

unsuccessful procedure

Replaces "operation" with "procedure", broadening the context.

fruitless operation

Emphasizes the lack of positive results or outcomes.

ineffective operation

Highlights the lack of effectiveness or intended impact.

botched operation

Implies a poorly executed and failed operation.

futile operation

Suggests the operation had no chance of success from the beginning.

failed attempt

General term indicating a lack of success in an endeavor.

abortive attempt

Highlights the premature termination of the attempt

unavailing attempt

Uses 'unavailing' to emphasize the lack of positive results

FAQs

How can I use "unsuccessful operation" in a sentence?

You can use "unsuccessful operation" to describe a procedure or endeavor that did not achieve its intended outcome. For example, "The "operation" to rescue the hostages was an "unsuccessful operation".

What can I say instead of "unsuccessful operation"?

You can use alternatives like "failed operation", "abortive operation", or "ineffective operation" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "unsuccessful operation" or "not successful operation"?

"Unsuccessful operation" is the more common and natural phrasing. "Not successful operation" is grammatically correct but sounds less idiomatic.

What's the difference between "unsuccessful operation" and "partially successful operation"?

"Unsuccessful operation" means the "operation" completely failed to achieve its goals. "Partially successful operation" indicates that some objectives were met, but not all.