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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Antonio Conte has stressed that everyone involved at Chelsea must shoulder some of the responsibility for the club's failings this season.
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Whatever the specific reasons behind Under Armour's failings, companies need to vet and audit their security protections to discover flaws and mistakes before bad actors do.
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The hard way These failings have forced the Chinese authorities to resort to less-straightforward methods to bring suspects home.
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As the federal government shutdown took hold Saturday (Jan. 20), Democrats and Republicans in Congress blamed one another failing to pass a temporary spending bill.
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An infatuation with screens can easily slide into a moral failing.
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This, the novel’s biggest weakness, is largely a failing of Mangan’s prose, which tends to be general rather than specific, lofty rather than grounded, received rather than observed.
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Last week, Politico cited more than 20 party officials and strategists who bemoaned Saccone’s failings as a candidate.
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The Kremlin today compensates for domestic failings by posturing abroad.
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, weakness;
Related Words
blemish, deficiency, flaw, imperfection, minus, nit;
corruption, depravity, evil, immorality, sinfulness, wickedness;
Phrases
feet of clay;
Synonym 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
Definition of failing for English Language Learners
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: a weakness or problem in a person's character, behavior, or ability
failing
Definition of failing for English Language Learners
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: in the absence of (something)
FAILING Defined for Kids
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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