Success : Successful :: Failure : _____________

Question

Is there an adjective to describe "full of failure(s)"? Most often heard it's that s.o./s.t. is a failure, but I'm looking specifically for an adjective.

Edit: I'm looking for a word that encompasses an ongoing pattern of failure, not just a one-time event. Note that while possible, "unsuccessful" doesn't usually imply failure.

She married her childhood sweetheart, built a profitable multi-national corporation, and founded several humanitarian NPOs. What a successful woman!

vs.

She ran out on her family. She was arrested for embezzling millions from her own company; ousted by the board of directors. Then she blew all of her savings on gambling and drugs. What a _____________ woman!

I feel like "failed" and "unsuccessful" don't correctly capture the weight of this context. You could say "failure of", but that's not an adjective.

Answer 1

Updated to reflect question clarification

From your provided example, it seems as if you're trying to connote a moral judgement on the 2nd woman. In this case, degenerate might suit you. From Merriam-Webster:

Having sunk to a condition below that which is normal to a type; especially having sunk to a lower and usually corrupt and vicious state.

She ran out on her family. She was arrested...What a degenerate woman!

If you don't want to necessarily give such a moral judgement, I think hopeless might be more of what you're after (emphasis mine):

Having no expecation of good or success

as in, she ran out on her family. She was arrested...What a hopeless woman!

Answer 2

Pauperized

pauperize

verb

past tense: pauperized; past participle: pauperized

make very poor; impoverish.

Or,

impoverished

adjective

very poor:

made weaker or worse in quality

Answer 3

Depends on the context. 'Buggy' or 'faulty' work for applications and engineering. For a person, 'hopeless' or 'relentlessly/consistently unsuccessful'.

Answer 4

You could also use miserable or pathetic, but the first carries a sense of judgement and the second an air if disrespect and maybe even hatred. Depending on context, it may be best to last out the facts that will lead the reader to the conclusion you want them to make. As Brad Pitt told Matt Damon in Ocean's 11, never use seven words when four will do.

Answer 5

I searched for antonyms of successful, and the two I think convey the meaning you want are hopeless and unfortunate.

EDIT = I moved my second comment to here.

You could also use miserable or pathetic, but the first carries a sense of judgement and the second an air if disrespect and maybe even hatred. Depending on context, it may be best to last out the facts that will lead the reader to the conclusion you want them to make. As Brad Pitt told Matt Damon in Ocean's 11, never use seven words when four will do.