failing that

phrase

formal

: if something (already specified) does not happen or succeed

We could try to persuade them by arguing or, failing that, we could threaten to cancel the deal.

Examples of failing that in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With past sets in mind, the next addition to the Art range needs to be immediately recognizable and, failing that, colorful. — Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Goal difference might be the deciding factor or goals scored or, failing that a team’s fair play record. — Phil Hay, New York Times, 26 June 2026

Go to a park — or failing that, a cemetery. — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 14 Apr. 2026

Specifically, McKenzie had become obsessed with cryptocurrency — the online infrastructure of alternative forms of money backed by a system of computer code that promised to revolutionize the world, or, failing that, make a lot of people very rich. — Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2026

Rhymes for failing that

• acrobat
• autocrat
• automat
• bundesrat
• bureaucrat
• butterfat
• caveat
• chemostat
• copycat
• cryostat
• democrat
• diplomat