1
as in to die
to stop functioning
my car failed just as I was about to head to work
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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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to forget
to miss the opportunity or obligation
failed to mention that he was looking for new job
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fail
Pitching to his historical pattern of being dominant in April before turning into a completely different pitcher in May, the big right-hander was fine through the first two innings before losing the strike zone and failing to make it through the third.
—
Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 17 May 2025
However, the driver, a 52-year-old man, failed to stop, and a pursuit began, according to San Diego police officer David O’Brien.
—Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 May 2025
When Valencia failed to pick up the couple's children from school at 3 p.m., his wife attempted to contact him by phone but received no response, the incident report says.
—Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 17 May 2025
That effort cost Obama's party control of the U.S. House of Representatives, while Republicans failed in their own bids to repeal the law.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 4 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for fail
Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 17 May 2025
However, the driver, a 52-year-old man, failed to stop, and a pursuit began, according to San Diego police officer David O’Brien.
—Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 May 2025
When Valencia failed to pick up the couple's children from school at 3 p.m., his wife attempted to contact him by phone but received no response, the incident report says.
—Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 17 May 2025
That effort cost Obama's party control of the U.S. House of Representatives, while Republicans failed in their own bids to repeal the law.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 4 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for fail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fail
Verb
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About 1,600 people get sick and 260 die each year from listeriosis, according to the CDC.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
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Eight-year-old Alanah Phillips and her 4-year-old brother Zayn Phillips died after Chidester drove her car into a child's party at the private Swan Boat Club on April 20, 2024.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
People.com,
16 May 2025
Verb
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This is often not helped when an investment collapses or defaults, and commentators online and other advisory companies increase client doubts.—
Adam Fayed,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
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After his 4-foot putt went in during the one-hole playoff against Justin Rose, McIlroy threw his golf club in the air and collapsed to the ground.—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
People.com,
15 May 2025
Verb
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This is a great NBA matchup that will not disappoint; make sure to tune in and catch all the action.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 May 2025
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Holding the iPhone 17 Air will likely be just as astonishing, but get ready to be disappointed with its battery stats.—
Julian Chokkattu,
Wired News,
13 May 2025
Verb
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Others may develop it after pregnancy, as the muscles and ligaments around the uterus can loosen or weaken.—
Brandi Jones,
Health,
10 May 2025
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This weakens their ability to tailor experiences and erodes marketing efficiency.—
Amit Jhawar,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
Verb
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And don’t forget to sign the honor code when you’re done.—
Patricia Schultheis,
Baltimore Sun,
11 May 2025
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The new digital feature will allow individuals who have either forgotten their Social Security number or who have lost their Social Security cards to access their personal number online through the agency’s My Social Security website.—
Lorie Konish,
CNBC,
11 May 2025
Verb
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The truck then crashed into a pillar on the 95th Street bridge and came to rest against the bridge, the crash report said.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
17 May 2025
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Brown also faced turmoil, including the 2008-10 Great Recession, which included real estate prices crashing up to 70% inland and 33% on the coast.—
John Seiler,
Oc Register,
15 May 2025
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.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
People.com,
16 May 2025
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In my case, the local water utility created significant hardship for a new resident, generated negative publicity (this article being just one example), missed an opportunity to convert a potential problem into a service win, and diminished trust in local services.—
Ryan Minton,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
Verb
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Advisors who can build trust and act as a central coordinator for these services are invaluable—and often become long-term partners even after the spotlight fades.—
Jason Katz,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2025
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As threats from insurgents faded, crackdowns by an authoritarian government surged.—
Mitra Taj,
New York Times,
17 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fail. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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