was doomed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was doomed" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to describe a situation that appears to be predetermined to fail or be unsuccessful. For example, "The team's chances of winning the game were slim, and it seemed that it was doomed from the start."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was doomed anyway.

The New York Times

"I was doomed".

The New York Times - Arts

The relationship was doomed.

The New York Times

Cruise was doomed.

The Guardian

A favorite word was "doomed".

The New York Times

The strategy was doomed.

The New York Times

He was doomed.

The New York Times - Sports

Hillary Clinton was doomed.

The Guardian

West was doomed.

The New York Times - Arts

It was doomed.

The Guardian - Film

The family was doomed.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was doomed" to add a sense of finality and inevitability to a situation, emphasizing the lack of hope or potential for recovery.

Common error

Avoid using "was doomed" when describing situations that are merely challenging or difficult. This phrase should be reserved for scenarios where failure is virtually guaranteed, as overuse can dilute its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was doomed" functions as a predicate adjective phrase, modifying a subject to indicate a state of being destined for an undesirable outcome. Ludwig's examples illustrate its usage to describe entities or situations certain to fail, such as "The relationship was doomed" or "The expedition was doomed from the start."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

2%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was doomed" is a common and grammatically sound way to express the inevitability of a negative outcome. According to Ludwig, it is frequently found in news and media contexts, signaling its appropriateness for describing situations destined for failure. While its register is generally neutral, careful consideration should be given to the severity of the situation to avoid over-dramatization. Alternatives such as "was fated to fail" or "was destined for failure" can be used to modulate the intensity of the statement. Remember to reserve the phrase "was doomed" for scenarios where there is truly little to no hope of a positive resolution, as Ludwig AI confirms.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was fated to fail

Replaces "doomed" with "fated to fail", emphasizing predestination or destiny as the cause of the inevitable failure.

was destined for failure

Uses "destined for failure" instead of "was doomed", suggesting a predetermined outcome of failure.

was certain to collapse

Specifies "collapse" as the inevitable negative outcome, rather than a more general sense of doom.

was sure to fall apart

Emphasizes disintegration and failure of structure using "fall apart" in place of "doomed".

was headed for disaster

Replaces "was doomed" with "was headed for disaster", focusing on impending catastrophe.

was bound to crash

Focuses on the inevitability of a dramatic failure, using "crash" instead of the more general "doomed".

had no chance of success

Shifts the focus to the lack of opportunity for a positive outcome, rather than the inevitability of a negative one.

was ill-fated from the start

Adds the element of time, indicating that the negative outcome was determined from the beginning.

was a lost cause

Highlights the futility of attempting to salvage the situation, using "lost cause" instead of "doomed".

was beyond saving

Emphasizes the impossibility of rescue or recovery, suggesting a state of irreversible decline.

FAQs

How can I use "was doomed" in a sentence?

You can use "was doomed" to describe situations where failure is considered inevitable. For example, "The plan "was doomed" from the start due to a lack of resources."

What are some alternatives to saying "was doomed"?

Alternatives include phrases like "was fated to fail", "was destined for failure", or "was a lost cause", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it too dramatic to say something "was doomed"?

The appropriateness of using "was doomed" depends on the severity of the situation. It's suitable when describing scenarios with little to no chance of success but might be overly dramatic for minor setbacks. Consider alternatives if the situation isn't truly irreversible.

What is the difference between "was doomed" and "was likely to fail"?

"Was doomed" suggests a higher degree of certainty and inevitability than "was likely to fail". "Was doomed" implies there's virtually no chance of success, while "was likely to fail" leaves room for the possibility, however slim, of a different outcome.