1
as in unsuccessful
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Dissimilar Words
2
as in inadequate
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in died
to stop functioning
my car failed just as I was about to head to work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in collapsed
to be unsuccessful
despite all the publicity, the movie failed miserably at the box office
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disappointed
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 weakened
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 forgot
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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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of failed
Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Mar. 2026
Lizzie Still Lives Rent-Free in Duff’s Head Despite the business complications and two failed revival attempts, Duff’s relationship with the character appears to have settled into a warm place.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 10 Mar. 2026
At one stage, the wealthy brothers offered sums of up to $100 million in a failed bid for release on bail.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 9 Mar. 2026
Libya remains a failed state today.
—Farah N. Jan, The Conversation, 2 Mar. 2026
Brown last session co-sponsored a failed bill with Valdez that offered tax incentives to data centers.
—Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 1 Mar. 2026
The failed company behind the chatbot Smith-Griffin was indicted in November 2024.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
That midterm year saw a failed confirmation of Ronny Jackson as Veterans Affairs Secretary and the replacement of State Department chief Rex Tillerson.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 25 Feb. 2026
The mansion had been the subject of three failed sales in three years.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 22 Feb. 2026
Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026
The conflict was sparked by Hezbollah targeting Israel after the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, breaking a 2024 ceasefire that in any case had largely failed.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 11 Mar. 2026
According to the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, Connecticut governors and legislatures failed to save adequate for pension benefits for more than seven decades prior to 2011.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
Reilly also argued Preckwinkle failed to insulate Cook County Health from federal funding cuts and to turn around enough vacant properties held by the county land bank.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Several transportation sales tax measures have failed in recent years, but each differed substantially from the safe streets proposal.
—Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 11 Mar. 2026
The Ravens backed out of a blockbuster trade for star edge rusher Maxx Crosby late Tuesday after the defensive end reportedly failed his physical.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026
The legislation, known as a war powers resolution, failed on a 47-53 vote tally.
—Arkansas Online, 5 Mar. 2026
The measure failed on a 47-53 vote.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
The district argued there was another year left before there were five failed ratings in a row, but the judge panel struck down this argument, among others.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Mar. 2026
Lizzie Still Lives Rent-Free in Duff’s Head Despite the business complications and two failed revival attempts, Duff’s relationship with the character appears to have settled into a warm place.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 10 Mar. 2026
At one stage, the wealthy brothers offered sums of up to $100 million in a failed bid for release on bail.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 9 Mar. 2026
Libya remains a failed state today.
—Farah N. Jan, The Conversation, 2 Mar. 2026
Brown last session co-sponsored a failed bill with Valdez that offered tax incentives to data centers.
—Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 1 Mar. 2026
The failed company behind the chatbot Smith-Griffin was indicted in November 2024.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
That midterm year saw a failed confirmation of Ronny Jackson as Veterans Affairs Secretary and the replacement of State Department chief Rex Tillerson.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 25 Feb. 2026
The mansion had been the subject of three failed sales in three years.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 22 Feb. 2026
Verb
The family on Wednesday filed a wrongful-death claim against the Los Angeles Unified School District, alleging school officials failed to investigate reports of bullying, adequately supervise student interactions or implement effective safety measures.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026
The conflict was sparked by Hezbollah targeting Israel after the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, breaking a 2024 ceasefire that in any case had largely failed.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 11 Mar. 2026
According to the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, Connecticut governors and legislatures failed to save adequate for pension benefits for more than seven decades prior to 2011.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
Reilly also argued Preckwinkle failed to insulate Cook County Health from federal funding cuts and to turn around enough vacant properties held by the county land bank.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Several transportation sales tax measures have failed in recent years, but each differed substantially from the safe streets proposal.
—Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 11 Mar. 2026
The Ravens backed out of a blockbuster trade for star edge rusher Maxx Crosby late Tuesday after the defensive end reportedly failed his physical.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026
The legislation, known as a war powers resolution, failed on a 47-53 vote tally.
—Arkansas Online, 5 Mar. 2026
The measure failed on a 47-53 vote.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for failed
Adjective
-
Multiple attempts to reach the property owner were unsuccessful.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Mar. 2026
-
There is some hope within the organization that Blackburn can follow a path similar to the one that Luke Weaver took, as the ex-Yank transitioned from an unsuccessful starter to a high-leverage reliever while making relatively little money with the team.—
Gary Phillips,
Hartford Courant,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
About 120,000 people are in 580 overcrowded shelters with inadequate sanitation.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Trump also warned the House GOP that their existing version of the bill is inadequate.—
Lisa Mascaro,
Twin Cities,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In the ensuing melee, she was hit in the head with a metal water bottle — causing injuries so severe that she was hospitalized, and later died.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Marland Jeffries died in 2023 at the age of 85.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In October, the company’s stock collapsed to less than $1 per share after a debt deal, down from its peak of nearly $235 per share in 2019.—
Iris Kwok,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
When the old order collapsed, Iran’s networks were ready.—
Farah N. Jan,
The Conversation,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Hawks wrote in a statement on Monday that it was disappointed with the NBA’s decision but would respect it.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Loeb was disappointed by the outcome Saturday, but was ready to put some perspective on it.—
Steve Fryer,
Oc Register,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Will they be weakened domestically by entering the war?—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Tornado watch ends for central and east-central Georgia A tornado warning had been issued earlier Thursday morning for parts of Marion County, Chattahoochee County and Webster County before expiring once the immediate tornado threat weakened.—
CBS News Atlanta Digital Team,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The whole world forgot about Iran.—
Chierstin Roth,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
-
In training camp a year ago, Montgomery said missing those three games the previous season gave him the sense that people forgot him.—
Colton Pouncy,
New York Times,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The state graded the campus an F for three consecutive years, meaning two more failing grades could trigger an intervention.—
Noah Alcala Bach,
San Antonio Express-News,
1 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Failed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failed. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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