unfailingly

IPA/ʌnˈfeɪlɪŋli/
KK[ənfˈelɪŋli]IPA/ʌnˈfeɪlɪŋli/

unfailingly — adverb

1. happening or being true every single time, with no exceptions at all — so you ca

1.adverbB2
Definition

happening or being true every single time, with no exceptions at all — so you can be completely sure of it

Example

Shirin is unfailingly kind to every new student who joins her class.

unfailingly + adjective (kind)

Quan's morning bus unfailingly arrives at the station on time, even in bad weather.

Common collocations
  • unfailingly kind
  • unfailingly polite
  • unfailingly cheerful
  • unfailingly patient
  • unfailingly arrives
  • unfailingly provides
  • unfailingly supports
Synonyms
  • always

    more common and neutral; describes something that happens every time

  • invariably

    more formal; emphasizes that something never changes or varies

  • without fail

    phrasal, often used after promises or scheduled events ('I will be there without fail')

Antonyms
  • never

    complete opposite — describes something that does not happen at any time

Grammar Patterns

unfailingly + adjective (e.g. unfailingly kind)

unfailingly + verb (e.g. unfailingly arrives)

unfailingly at start of sentence, set off by comma

Usage Note

Commonly modifies adjectives describing positive personal qualities (kind, polite, patient, cheerful) or verbs describing reliable actions (arrive, appear, perform, provide). Can be placed before the main verb or at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis.

Common Mistakes

The taxi unfailingly broke down every morning.
The taxi unfailingly arrived every morning.
Unfailingly describes things that happen dependably or constantly, so it does not fit negative outcomes like breaking down.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

Always, invariably, and unfailingly all describe repeated or continuous action, but they differ in nuance. Always is the most common and neutral word — it describes something that happens every time or for all time ('She always walks to work'). Invariably is more formal and emphasises that something never changes or varies ('The head chef is invariably the first person to arrive'). Unfailingly adds a nuance of reliability and dependability — it suggests not just that something happens every time, but that you can count on it, especially with positive qualities ('He is unfailingly cheerful'). Without fail is a phrasal expression, often used after a promise or a schedule ('I will call you without fail'). Choose unfailingly when you want to highlight that someone or something can be trusted to behave consistently and positively.

always ↗invariably ↗without fail ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • unfailingly kind
  • unfailingly polite
  • unfailingly patient
  • unfailingly arrives
  • unfailingly provides

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Formed from the prefix un- (meaning 'not') + the adjective failing (from the verb fail, from Old French falir, from Latin fallere 'to deceive, disappoint') + the adverb-forming suffix -ly. The word unfailing first appeared in the 15th century meaning 'not liable to fail, inexhaustible', and unfailingly emerged from it as an adverb meaning 'in a way that does not fail'.