1
as in negligence
the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action
your failure to check the batteries in the smoke detector could have tragic results
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in defeat
a falling short of one's goals
the failure of the school's fund-raising drive was a big disappointment to all
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disaster
something that has failed
the students' first attempt to build a homemade rocket was a disappointing failure
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in shortage
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number
the failure of the potato crop had a devastating effect on the population of Ireland
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in bankruptcy
the inability to pay one's debts
years of prolonged economic depression, when business failures were common
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of failure
What begins as a story about systemic failures — the difficulty of childcare, the shortcomings of the foster system — contracts into an account of one woman’s trauma response.
—
Natalia Winkelman, Variety, 16 June 2026
Well into middle age by then, the former preschoolers’ lives were established, their successes and failures reasonably certain.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026
SpaceX has been continually building and flying iterations of Starship while unafraid of failure, in keeping with the company's philosophy.
—Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 16 June 2026
And equipment failures can require replacing components.
—Sven Bilén, The Conversation, 16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for failure
Natalia Winkelman, Variety, 16 June 2026
Well into middle age by then, the former preschoolers’ lives were established, their successes and failures reasonably certain.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026
SpaceX has been continually building and flying iterations of Starship while unafraid of failure, in keeping with the company's philosophy.
—Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 16 June 2026
And equipment failures can require replacing components.
—Sven Bilén, The Conversation, 16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for failure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for failure
Noun
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The video of Rodrigues de Freitas falling to her death has gone viral on social media platforms, where internet users are describing her death as a surreal case of negligence.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
-
Sacramento County jail records Saturday morning showed Merritt was booked on suspicion of felony hit-and-run resulting in death or permanent serious injury, felony vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence and misdemeanor driving without a valid license.—
Michael McGough,
Sacbee.com,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
After Mexico suffered a crushing 3-0 defeat to Sweden, their hopes of advancing hinged on South Korea’s team pulling off an unlikely victory over Germany.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
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The celebratory parade comes on the heels of the Knicks defeat of the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals 4-1 over the weekend, securing the team's first NBA Championship title since 1973 and ending a 53-year drought.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
Aemond is a murderer, Aegon is a rapist; if either of them ends up on the Iron Throne for good, that would be a disaster.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
-
On the dusty backroads of Radiator Springs, where Lightning McQueen and his pals live, a shower of meteors threatened to bring destruction upon the quarter-size cars in a scene that disaster movie king Roland Emmerich would endorse.—
Sandra Gonzalez,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
Noun
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The resulting labor shortage is driving up wages, another source of inflation in the country.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
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The war displaced most of the Palestinian population of more than 2 million, left large parts of the territory in rubble and created widespread shortages of food, medicine and other basic supplies asGaza’s border crossings — all but one controlled by Israel — were shut.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
Noun
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Leadership Starts With Conviction In SpaceX's early years, three consecutive rocket failures and the near-bankruptcy by late 2008 would have dampened the spirits of most leaders and their teams.—
Julian Hayes II,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
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Just when there are emotional moments of sincerity about healthcare denials causing bankruptcy and even death, the tone shifts with a joke about fan girls sending Mangione their underwear.—
Lorena O’Neil,
Rolling Stone,
20 June 2026
Noun
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People with serious mental illness continue to suffer in jails repeatedly criticized for violence, neglect, isolation, staffing shortages, and inadequate mental health care.—
Justyna Rzewinski,
New York Daily News,
16 June 2026
-
Practically overnight, Sylvia’s cozy attitude toward the girl hardens into coolness, impatience and neglect.—
Natalia Winkelman,
Variety,
16 June 2026
Noun
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Such lifting of sanctions all but guarantees that the Iranian regime will be bolstered mere months after protests brought it to the brink of collapse.—
Ruth Margalit,
New Yorker,
19 June 2026
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Firefighters confirmed that the building sustained severe structural damage but ruled out the possibility of a complete collapse.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
Horrible things happen all the time, crises and catastrophes that defy language and imagination.—
Karen Valby,
Vanity Fair,
16 June 2026
-
But if your concerned friend starts worrying about AI data centers literally causing a worldwide water catastrophe, the actual numbers involved should hopefully put those worries to rest.—
Kyle Orland,
ArsTechnica,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Failure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failure. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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