unsuccessfully

USAGE SUMMARY

"unsuccessfully" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which someone or something has not accomplished their goal. For example, "The student unsuccessfully attempted to answer the question."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Raja Petra Kamarudin, fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, wrote on Malaysia Today, a website the Malaysian government is trying unsuccessfully to block: "Anwar has to balance the aims of the parties in his coalition, and we will see compromises being made.

The Guardian

The IMF knows this, which is why it has been pressing, so far unsuccessfully, for a debt write-off to be part of any new financial deal for Greece.

The Guardian - Business

Douglas Alexander, the shadow foreign secretary, unsuccessfully urged Miliband to go on the attack over Cameron's use of the SNP to sow division in the UK.

The Guardian

Instead of (unsuccessfully) keeping forest-adjacent communities at bay, the state would join hands with them and skip together into a jointly managed forest.

The Guardian

Bachmann ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination and had touted her Iowa roots while campaigning in that state.

The Guardian

Labour's Sadiq Khan accused Cameron of "writing propaganda for the EDL", but much of the ground for Cameron's neocon turn was laid by Tony Blair and New Labour – and politicians such as Phil Woolas, who unsuccessfully tried to play the Islamophobic card to save his skin.

The Guardian - Opinion

The unions had been unsuccessfully fighting a rearguard action against the industrial relations legislation of the then Conservative prime minister, Edward Heath.

The Guardian

A close friend of Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan (with whom she co-starred in That Hagen Girl, 1947), she became active in the Republican party in California, where, in 1967, she ran unsuccessfully for the US House of Representatives, voicing her support for the Vietnam war.

The Guardian - Film

Al Khelaifi attempted unsuccessfully to lure Wenger from Arsenal in the summer of 2011 and further soundings were taken towards the end of last season, with Wenger insistent that he respects his contracts.

The Guardian - Sport

Last year All3Media unsuccessfully attempted to find a buyer after setting a sky-high price tag of £750m with early suitors including Garvie's new employer SPT.

The Guardian

Tomlinson unsuccessfully argued that the story was not in the public interest and that it was a breach of privacy because McClaren and the woman "had not at any stage conducted their relationship in public".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unsuccessfully" to clearly convey that an attempt was made but did not achieve the desired result. This adds precision to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "unsuccessfully" when you mean "unfortunate" or "regrettable". "Unsuccessfully" specifically refers to a failed attempt, not a general state of misfortune.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "unsuccessfully" primarily functions to modify verbs, indicating that an action was performed but did not achieve the intended outcome. Ludwig's AI confirms it's a correct word. It adds detail about how the action was carried out.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Formal & Business

7%

Science

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unsuccessfully" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverb that clearly indicates a failed attempt or action. Ludwig's AI confirms its validity and usability. While appropriate in various contexts, it's most commonly found in news and media sources. Remember to use it precisely to convey that an effort was made but did not achieve the desired outcome, and avoid confusing it with similar words like "unfortunate". Alternatives include "without success" and "to no avail", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fruitlessly

Conveys the idea that the effort expended did not yield any positive results. It's a direct synonym.

without success

Replaces a single adverb with a prepositional phrase. It changes the sentence structure slightly, adding emphasis to the lack of success.

ineffectually

Stresses the inadequacy or lack of power in the effort made, suggesting it was too weak to produce the desired outcome.

to no avail

Emphasizes the futility of the attempt, portraying it as ultimately ineffective or useless.

in vain

Highlights the lack of result despite the effort involved. It's often used in more literary or reflective contexts.

unproductively

Highlights that the effort did not yield the intended results, but it more precisely focuses on the lack of tangible output.

without managing to

Focuses on the failure to achieve something, regardless of the effort made.

abortively

Focuses on the incomplete or premature termination of an attempt before reaching a successful conclusion.

failing to achieve

Highlights the lack of attainment of the goal. It shifts the emphasis to the result rather than the attempt itself.

unsuccessfully striving

Emphasizes the continuous effort made without achieving the desired goal, highlighting the persistence of the attempt.

FAQs

How can I use "unsuccessfully" in a sentence?

"Unsuccessfully" indicates that an attempt was made, but it did not succeed. For instance, "The team "unsuccessfully tried to" negotiate a deal."

What are some alternatives to using "unsuccessfully"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "to no avail", "without success", or "in vain" instead of "unsuccessfully".

Is it redundant to say "tried unsuccessfully"?

While "tried unsuccessfully" might seem redundant, it emphasizes both the effort made and the failure of that effort. Using just "tried" doesn't convey the lack of success.

What's the difference between "unsuccessfully" and "successfully"?

"Unsuccessfully" means not achieving the desired outcome, while "successfully" means achieving the desired outcome. They are antonyms, representing opposite results of an attempt.