1
as in to die
to stop functioning
my car failed just as I was about to head to work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to collapse
to be unsuccessful
despite all the publicity, the movie failed miserably at the box office
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to disappoint
to fall short in satisfying the expectation or hope of
although the minor-league franchise continues to fail local fans, hope springs eternal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to weaken
to lose bodily strength or vigor
ever since she reached the age of 90, Grandma has been noticeably failing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to forget
to miss the opportunity or obligation
failed to mention that he was looking for new job
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fail
However, creativity and the desire to tell stories never failed us, as well as the strength to keep going.
—
Mathew Scott, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
Instead, OpenAI suspects Apple intentionally failed to promote the integration and fears that the deal may have damaged the ChatGPT brand, sources said.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026
Implementation was delayed, competing rewrite efforts surfaced, and a special legislative session failed to produce consensus.
—Alonzo Martinez, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
The district closed the indoor swimming facility at 1000 Bear Creek Parkway on May 12 due to safety concerns after the filtration system failed.
—Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for fail
Mathew Scott, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
Instead, OpenAI suspects Apple intentionally failed to promote the integration and fears that the deal may have damaged the ChatGPT brand, sources said.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026
Implementation was delayed, competing rewrite efforts surfaced, and a special legislative session failed to produce consensus.
—Alonzo Martinez, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
The district closed the indoor swimming facility at 1000 Bear Creek Parkway on May 12 due to safety concerns after the filtration system failed.
—Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for fail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fail
Verb
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Another hiker died on the same trail one week earlier after falling down a ravine, though officials haven’t clarified whether injuries or illness caused his death.—
Andrew Khouri,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
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One of the owners told officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission that 31 other sloths, from Guyana and Peru, had died — either on the way to the attraction or after arriving and being stored over cold nights in a building with no heat or running water.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
Verb
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In 1980, 35 people were killed when a freighter rammed the Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay in Florida, causing a 1,300-foot section of the southbound span to collapse.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
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And today, for the time being, the regime has collapsed totally.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Asked to pitch in a high-leverage situation for the first time in a while, Camilo Doval disappointed on Saturday.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
10 May 2026
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Shakira Austin made four free throws down the stretch and the Washington Mystics held on to beat the expansion Tempo 68-65 on Friday night, disappointing a sellout crowd of 8,210 at Coca-Cola Coliseum.—
Ian Harrison,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
Verb
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As consumer activity has weakened, the central bank has warned about the growing misalignment between real sentiment and headline GDP growth.—
Stephanie Yang,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
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Heat can shrink fabrics, fade colors and weaken elastic fibers, which shortens the life of garments that would otherwise hold up for years.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
12 May 2026
Verb
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Oh, and who could forget how the monstrosity known as Doomsday is turned into a Jekyll and Hyde paramedic named Davis Bloome (Sam Witwer), while Zod (Callum Blue) borrows a page out of Captain Howdy's playbook by possessing Lex's body.—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
13 May 2026
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In any event, he’s been forgotten.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Somehow, Navarro countered with a cutter as both men crashed through the sea of chairs.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
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Four people were killed on May 14 when a medical transport airplane crashed in New Mexico and caused a fire, authorities said.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.—
Angelique Brenes,
PEOPLE,
13 May 2026
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Fudd missed the Dallas Wings’ home opener Tuesday with a right knee injury, the team announced prior to tipoff against the Atlanta Dream.—
Brian Hamilton,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
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In terms of where to beach, wide stretches of sand in Beach Haven remain some of the Jersey Shore’s most desirable, drawing surfers at sunrise, families hauling coolers and striped umbrellas by midday, and sunset walkers lingering until the sky fades pink over the dunes.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 May 2026
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Inside, customers collect passport stamps, browse racks of worn leather and faded denim and line up for limited-edition tote bags tied to the second annual Vintage Store Day.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fail. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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