Definition of failing
:a usually slight or insignificant defect in character, conduct, or ability
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Examples of failing in a Sentence
He has some minor failings.
we could talk about your failings, but it would take all night
Recent Examples of failing from the Web
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West Brom manager Tony Pulis claims his club will learn from previous transfer failings, and only make signings that will improve the Baggies' squad.
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This is another example of the NFL’s hypocrisy on display and an attempt to create a sideshow to distract from their own failings in dealing with such serious issues.
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Lay began to stage public protests to shock the Friends of Philadelphia into awareness of their own moral failings about slavery.
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The Kansas State Board of Healing Arts suspended Grote’s medical license in 2014 for a litany of professional failings, including unsafe opioid prescribing.
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No matter which executive follows Jackson—whether it’s dream candidate Masai Ujiri or someone else—his primary job will be to undo Jackson’s damage, to unwind his many failings and miscalculations.
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Daniels did not make judgments on how USA Gymnastics handled specific cases or who was responsible for the failings.
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After all, the president infamously mocked the White House press secretary for his sartorial failings early in his tenure.
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The only real failings in the show are a couple of fight scenes where the blows are so faked as to be comic.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'failing.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of failing
1590
failing Synonyms
Synonyms
demerit, dereliction, fault, foible, frailty, shortcoming, sin, vice, want, weaknessAntonyms
merit, virtueRelated Words
blot, spot, stain; blemish, deficiency, flaw, imperfection, minus, nit; Achilles' heel, soft spot; corruption, depravity, evil, immorality, sinfulness, wickednessNear Antonyms
excellence, perfection; goodness, integrity, morality, probity, rectitude, righteousnessSynonym Discussion of failing
fault, failing, frailty, foible, vice mean an imperfection or weakness of character. fault implies a failure, not necessarily culpable, to reach some standard of perfection in disposition, action, or habit.
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- a writer of many virtues and few faults
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- being late is a failing of mine
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- human frailties
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- an eccentric's charming foibles
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- compulsive gambling was his vice
Definition of failing
:in absence or default of
- failing specific instructions, use your own judgment
Examples of failing in a Sentence
Failing progress in the peace process, war seems likely.
First Known Use of failing
1810
FAILING Defined for English Language Learners
failing
play
noun
Definition of failing for English Language Learners
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: a weakness or problem in a person's character, behavior, or ability
failing
preposition
Definition of failing for English Language Learners
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: in the absence of (something)
FAILING Defined for Kids
failing
play
noun
fail·ing
\
ˈfā-ling
\
Definition of failing for Students
:a weakness or flaw in a person's character, behavior, or ability
Learn More about failing
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See words that rhyme with failing Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for failing Spanish Central: Translation of failing Nglish: Translation of failing for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of failing for Arabic speakers
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