1
as in to die
to stop functioning
my car failed just as I was about to head to work
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fail
After years of failing to get past the court of appeals, the Supreme Court agreed to hear both cases last July.
—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
30 June 2026
Minutes later, Haaland nearly doubled the Norwegian advantage on a close-range shot that was blocked, resulting in a corner that the imposing striker just failed to get on the end of.
—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
30 June 2026
The decision also followed a nearly $16 million fine issued by the state environmental department to the DOE for allegedly contaminating groundwater by failing to manage legacy radioactive waste.
—
Ariel Cohen,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
The downside is that if this technology ever fails, becomes outdated, or isn’t available for some reason, young people today who grew up using it will find their world becomes less accessible to them.
—
Jillian Pretzel,
Parents,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for fail
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
30 June 2026
Minutes later, Haaland nearly doubled the Norwegian advantage on a close-range shot that was blocked, resulting in a corner that the imposing striker just failed to get on the end of.
—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
30 June 2026
The decision also followed a nearly $16 million fine issued by the state environmental department to the DOE for allegedly contaminating groundwater by failing to manage legacy radioactive waste.
—
Ariel Cohen,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
The downside is that if this technology ever fails, becomes outdated, or isn’t available for some reason, young people today who grew up using it will find their world becomes less accessible to them.
—
Jillian Pretzel,
Parents,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for fail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fail
Verb
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Ramos’ two daughters –– Darling Antonella, seven, and Dulce María, two –– were staying with their grandparents and great-grandparents, who also died in the earthquakes.
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It was created in 2015 to honor the life and legacy of former ESPN broadcaster Stuart Scott, who died due to cancer earlier that year.
Verb
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When AllHere collapsed in mid-2024, the district — with Carvalho’s support — launched an internal review.
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At least 383 buildings and over 1,000 other structures had collapsed or were heavily affected, and officials were still assessing the damage.
Verb
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Tom Ayers, 34, was disappointed to find the fences already up on Monday.
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Asian national teams largely disappointed at the World Cup, with most exiting after the group stage, a stark contrast to African teams' historic success.
Verb
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Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images BEIJING — China’s consumer spending slowdown persisted in June, with growth during one of the country’s largest online shopping festivals weakening sharply from a year earlier.
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All three of those protagonists have been weakened in their roles by what has gone on.
Verb
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Aaron Morris of San Francisco wanted to make sure the match would be one his father, Pancho, would never forget.
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Then, just as suddenly, the din fades away, the focus shifts and the election process is forgotten until the next round of howling protest.
Verb
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The sheriff's office said Butler failed to maintain a single lane before leaving the roadway and crashing through the side of the home.
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Balogun crashed into Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemović, landing his foot on top of Muharemović’s during the physical match.
Verb
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My jaw is still on the floor over this can’t-miss $1 makeup deal.
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Don’t miss our guide with nearly two-dozen new bar openings across the city.
Verb
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But rental business owners like Zhao observed that the rental prices have begun to slide as novelty surrounding these stunt-performing androids fades.
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The combination of hyaluronic and azelaic acid does wonders to fade dark spots, soothe redness, and deeply hydrate.
Cite this Entry
“Fail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fail. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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