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
Proven in principle, now wrestling with scale, cost, and failure.
—
Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2025
Even before any ruling, the lawsuit is likely to intensify political scrutiny of the government’s handling of student debt and pressure officials to address servicing and reporting failures.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Zuckerberg, however, was not admitting a failure.
—Damon Beres, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2025
The Simon & Schuster memoir trackes his journey to become an in-demand comedian before the age of 30 with musings on depression, failure, success and family.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for failure
Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2025
Even before any ruling, the lawsuit is likely to intensify political scrutiny of the government’s handling of student debt and pressure officials to address servicing and reporting failures.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Zuckerberg, however, was not admitting a failure.
—Damon Beres, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2025
The Simon & Schuster memoir trackes his journey to become an in-demand comedian before the age of 30 with musings on depression, failure, success and family.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for failure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for failure
Noun
-
Whether the courts view that rift as administrative failure or unlawful negligence may determine the financial futures of a generation of borrowers—and the credibility of the agency that lent to them.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Zwerner has filed a $40 million negligence lawsuit against former Richneck Elementary Assistant Principal Ebony Parker.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Auburn fell to 4-5 on the year after the Week 10 defeat to the Wildcats.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Although Ukraine for now is still maintaining a defense, the fall of Pokrovsk would be one of the most serious defeats Ukraine has suffered since March, when its troops were forced to retreat from Russia's Kursk region.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The journalists who rushed to the scene managed to jot down the names of about a dozen—the VIPs (there were three members of parliament on the train that day, which was a factor in the disaster) and a couple of servants.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
As a train barrels toward her near the final moments of the video, Perry spots a daisy on the tracks — seemingly a nod to her daughter — and dodges disaster.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
When staffing shortages occur, the FAA will reduce the flow of air traffic to maintain safety.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Flights are being delayed and cancelled across the country because of airport staffing shortages.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
And JCPenney shed hundreds of stores in its 2020 bankruptcy and is now down to 650 locations, from 1,100 a decade ago.—
Phil Wahba,
Fortune,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Then, in January 2019, a bankruptcy court in the Southern District of New York granted relief to CBCS.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Parker will appear in criminal court The civil verdict against Parker — who faces eight counts of felony child neglect in a criminal trial next month — provides a window into key evidence and arguments that will likely resurface when Parker appears in criminal court.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
-
In a separate legal matter, Parker is facing criminal charges of felony child abuse and neglect for her alleged indifference.—
Gary Grumbach,
NBC news,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
From the perspective of a world of increasingly unimaginable maldistribution of resources, cascading ecological collapse, a genocide cheered on by a putatively liberal order, both are barbarisms.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The letter, shared exclusively with Fox News Digital, comes just days before al-Sharaa’s first visit to Washington since taking power following the collapse of the Assad regime.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Despite his lack of coaching experience at the MLB level, Vitello was named manager of the San Francisco Giants last month.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Part of the reason why there are so few of these conversations about podcasting is a general lack of criticism for narrative audio.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Failure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failure. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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