adverbial N1 uncommon writtenliterary
ことごとく — every single one
ことごとく
Meaning
- every single one / all without exception — emphasises that the whole lot turned out a certain way, often unfavourably; literary
Key sentence
彼の予想はことごとく外れた。
Every single one of his predictions was wrong.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Adverb fronting a clause, often a negative or adverse outcome | ことごとく + clause |
Examples
提案はことごとく却下された。
The proposals were rejected one and all.
彼のやり方に、私はことごとく反対だ。
I oppose his way of doing things in every single respect.
Notes
- Differs from the neutral 全部／すべて ('all') by its emphasis on 'without a single exception', and by its literary register and frequent adverse colouring.
See ことごとく in real sentences
Jengo shows ことごとく the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled from published Japanese grammar references.