failing that
idiom
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
Meanwhile, the 12% will go straight to the top (or failing that, HR) to report you.
—
Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 1 Feb. 2026
And, failing that, whether U.S. boots on the ground will be next.
—Anna Mulrine Grobe, Christian Science Monitor, 23 Dec. 2025
And most programs still want to ensure seven home games per season, or failing that, six plus a high-revenue neutral site game.
—Seth Emerson, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
Imagine failing that audition to play yourself.
—Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for failing that
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Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 1 Feb. 2026
And, failing that, whether U.S. boots on the ground will be next.
—Anna Mulrine Grobe, Christian Science Monitor, 23 Dec. 2025
And most programs still want to ensure seven home games per season, or failing that, six plus a high-revenue neutral site game.
—Seth Emerson, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
Imagine failing that audition to play yourself.
—Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for failing that
Cite this Entry
“Failing that.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/failing%20that. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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