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
But failure — misery, really — is a powerful unifier.
—
Chris Branch, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
The National Gallery of Art (NGA) in Washington, DC, closed its doors to the public on October 5, six days after the federal government ceased operations following the failure of Republicans and Democrats to agree on a spending bill.
—News Desk, Artforum, 7 Oct. 2025
Daniel’s commercial failure as a novelist impelled him to move to Los Angeles to try writing for the movies.
—David Kamp, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025
The pair is facing charges, including disorderly conduct, failure to disperse, obstructing a highway and obstructing an emergency responder.
—Quinlan Bentley, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for failure
Chris Branch, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
The National Gallery of Art (NGA) in Washington, DC, closed its doors to the public on October 5, six days after the federal government ceased operations following the failure of Republicans and Democrats to agree on a spending bill.
—News Desk, Artforum, 7 Oct. 2025
Daniel’s commercial failure as a novelist impelled him to move to Los Angeles to try writing for the movies.
—David Kamp, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025
The pair is facing charges, including disorderly conduct, failure to disperse, obstructing a highway and obstructing an emergency responder.
—Quinlan Bentley, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for failure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for failure
Noun
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Last May the ruling was confirmed by the Milan Appeal Court, which rejected the charges for a slightly different reason, claiming that Tod’s should not be charged for negligence since those where tier-two subcontractors.—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
8 Oct. 2025
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Jayaweera's son Surya is seeking damages for negligence and wrongful death at the statutory minimum amount of $128, 821, according to the complaint filed.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Liverpool’s defeat at Galatasaray saw their title chances drop from 20 to 15 per cent, with their top-eight chances falling to 59 per cent too (from 84).—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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The drop in the currency has been driven in part by concerns over Milei’s political support ahead of key midterm elections later this month following a crushing defeat in a local vote in Buenos Aires province in early September.—
Nicolle Yapur,
Fortune,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The organization focuses on the big disasters that often grip the headlines, such as wildfires, floods, and hurricanes – but also offers information about preparing for winter storms, tsunamis, tornados, lightning, hail and extreme heat.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
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Freeport-McMoRan is likely to rebound from an environmental disaster last month at its giant Grasberg mine in Indonesia that led the copper and gold producer to cut its production estimates, according to UBS.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Israel has limited aid to Gaza throughout the conflict, leading to desperate shortages of food and medicine.—
Greg Myre,
NPR,
9 Oct. 2025
-
The unrest on the island nation, triggered by power cuts and water shortages, has grown to reflect wider public anger over inequality, a cost-of-living crisis, and unemployment.—
Preeti Jha,
semafor.com,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Home décor chain At Home is emerging from bankruptcy after a court approved its restructuring plan.—
Tiffany Acosta,
AZCentral.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Conspiracy broadcaster Alex Jones may regain control of Infowars if a bankruptcy court fails to find a buyer.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Trying to use last minute overirrigation to make up for a season of neglect — well, that’s not a recipe for anything overly spectacular.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Youth who are committed to a detention center are more likely than other juveniles to have suffered abuse and neglect, and strip searches can retraumatize them.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
High seas and rough surf from two hurricanes have been blamed for the collapse of seven houses on North Carolina's Outer Banks.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
2 Oct. 2025
-
After the collapse, the city placed the building on the dangerous buildings list and issued an order that it being repaired or demolished.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Youths frustrated at a social media ban, corruption and lack of economic opportunities coordinated mass protests via Discord that helped bring down the government.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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If the shutdown drags on, the lack of government data could strain investors’ understanding of the health of the labor market and path of inflation at a time when stocks are historically expensive and vulnerable to a surprise.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Failure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failure. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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