-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
only succeed in
idiom
: to do the opposite of what one is trying to do : to achieve an undesired result
I tried to apologize but only succeeded in making her angrier.
Examples of only succeed in in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Scammers only succeed in defrauding people because their victims didn't perform any due diligence.
—Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Yet, even with work underway to improve the sustainability of AI products, de Vries says, these solutions may still only succeed in helping the reach of these AIs to grow even further.
—IEEE Spectrum, 29 Oct. 2023
These rigid rules and classifications leave patients behind and only succeed in creating administrative bloat.
—Ross Marchand, National Review, 3 Mar. 2022
Staking is a crypto use case that allows investors of all kinds to participate in the wealth creation process, attempts to ban it will not protect investors, and will only succeed in driving capital, innovation, and growth out of the U.S.
—Sean Stein Smith, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2023
The story runs in a grey area between two contradictory quotes ‘An eye for an eye will only succeed in making the whole world blind,’ said by Mahatma Gandhi, and ‘Revenge is the purest emotion,’ as quoted in the Mahabharata.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 Apr. 2022
However, this $60 billion-per-year proposal would only succeed in exacerbating income inequality while burgeoning the debt.
—Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 30 Aug. 2021
Piazza, who flourished in New York during his Hall of Fame career, noted during spring training that Lindor has the temperament to not only succeed in the city, but to excel under its gleaming spotlight.
—New York Times, 31 Mar. 2021
And so a group of Kenyan women is working to increase the visibility and influence of women in tech by providing the mentorship and skills that young women need to not only succeed in one of the most competitive tech markets in the developing world but have their contributions recognized as well.
—Nanjala Nyabola, Vogue, 8 Mar. 2021
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Dictionary Entries Near only succeed in
Cite this Entry
“Only succeed in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/only%20succeed%20in. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share