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
-
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
-
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
-
Morrissey believes Mizzou will be able to compete with the Crimson Tide, unlike last year’s 34-0 shutout defeat on the road.—
Maddie Hartley,
Kansas City Star,
9 Oct. 2025
-
And when the intensity hovers, and the footsteps of defeat get closer, that’s when Gray cooks.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The disaster level has officially hit biblical proportions.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
10 Oct. 2025
-
There will also be a slight pass given for not having Burrow, but let’s be real, this can’t be an abject disaster.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
10 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
-
At one point, the satirical news site The Onion tried to purchase InfoWars at a bankruptcy auction, but the court refused to approve the sale.—
Jenna Sundel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Her legal woes are only the latest for the long-running Bravo reality TV franchise, with The Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice having served 11 months in jail over a bank and bankruptcy fraud case.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The postpartum period has long been a time of profound neglect for mothers in America, but fortunately, that’s beginning to change—albeit slowly.—
Erin Bunch,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Tiki, who experienced severe neglect before his rescue, has slowly revealed his curious, silly, and loving side to his new family.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
More than two years of war have left Gaza in ruins, triggering famine and the collapse of essential infrastructure.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
9 Oct. 2025
-
His debut novel, Satantango, published in 1985, followed the collapse of a rural community in Hungary, while more recent works, including the novels The Prisoner of Urga and Destruction and Sorrow Beneath the Heavens, were inspired by the author’s travels to Mongolia and China.—
Paige Bruton,
semafor.com,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Some customers complained about the lack of human support, prompting Klarna to rethink part of its AI-first hiring strategy.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
10 Oct. 2025
-
One commenter offers some perspective, agreeing that the brother-in-law’s hurt about the lack of invitation is understandable, but the issue of the date feels less significant.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Failure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failure. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.
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