1
as in unsuccessful
Related Words
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of failed
Arkansas Online, 30 Mar. 2026
In 2024, North Korea claimed to have successfully test-launched a multiwarhead missile, but South Korea quickly dismissed it as a deception to cover up a failed launch.
—CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
The displaced here have fled the drought that has ravaged swaths of this Horn of Africa nation after four failed rain seasons.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
And so that's why it's particularly concerning to see the administration revisit similar failed strategies.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
That included a failed bill that would have required agencies to apply for 287(g) cooperation agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
—Idaho Statesman, 26 Mar. 2026
Tolbert describes a failed 2024 agreement that would have included a roughly $300 million arena renovation and a long-term Stars commitment to Dallas.
—Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026
The book exposes the failed response to the opioid crisis and the blight in the drug rehabilitation industry.
—Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026
DeSantis released his own memoir and launched a book tour before announcing his failed 2024 presidential run.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026
City leaders in Lake Dallas got more than an earful from residents who believe they were failed during a crisis in late March when a house explosion critically injured Jessica Bailey Lopez.
—Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
The lawsuit alleges that the restaurant was negligent in its hiring of Gad and failed to enforce policies that could have prevented the accusations, the complaint states.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 1 Apr. 2026
Militarily, all their high-end military equipment that Venezuela had also completely failed.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Trump’s tariff policies failed.
—Angela Alsobrooks, Baltimore Sun, 1 Apr. 2026
The Azzurri lost on penalties to unfancied Bosnia and Herzegovina, and have now failed to reach three World Cups in a row — the last knockout match Italy won in a World Cup was the 2006 final.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 1 Apr. 2026
One of the great soccer nations — a four-time World Cup winner, no less — has somehow failed to qualify for the largest World Cup in history.
—ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
The partnership aimed for nationwide availability by 2026 but failed to reach profitability.
—Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
In 2024, North Korea claimed to have successfully testlaunched a multiwarhead missile, but South Korea quickly dismissed it as deception to cover up a failed launch.
—Arkansas Online, 30 Mar. 2026
In 2024, North Korea claimed to have successfully test-launched a multiwarhead missile, but South Korea quickly dismissed it as a deception to cover up a failed launch.
—CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
The displaced here have fled the drought that has ravaged swaths of this Horn of Africa nation after four failed rain seasons.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
And so that's why it's particularly concerning to see the administration revisit similar failed strategies.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
That included a failed bill that would have required agencies to apply for 287(g) cooperation agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
—Idaho Statesman, 26 Mar. 2026
Tolbert describes a failed 2024 agreement that would have included a roughly $300 million arena renovation and a long-term Stars commitment to Dallas.
—Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026
The book exposes the failed response to the opioid crisis and the blight in the drug rehabilitation industry.
—Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026
DeSantis released his own memoir and launched a book tour before announcing his failed 2024 presidential run.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
Verb
The amateurish stickup failed, fast.
—Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026
City leaders in Lake Dallas got more than an earful from residents who believe they were failed during a crisis in late March when a house explosion critically injured Jessica Bailey Lopez.
—Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
The lawsuit alleges that the restaurant was negligent in its hiring of Gad and failed to enforce policies that could have prevented the accusations, the complaint states.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 1 Apr. 2026
Militarily, all their high-end military equipment that Venezuela had also completely failed.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Trump’s tariff policies failed.
—Angela Alsobrooks, Baltimore Sun, 1 Apr. 2026
The Azzurri lost on penalties to unfancied Bosnia and Herzegovina, and have now failed to reach three World Cups in a row — the last knockout match Italy won in a World Cup was the 2006 final.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 1 Apr. 2026
One of the great soccer nations — a four-time World Cup winner, no less — has somehow failed to qualify for the largest World Cup in history.
—ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
The partnership aimed for nationwide availability by 2026 but failed to reach profitability.
—Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for failed
Adjective
-
Attempts to get a comment from the district office were unsuccessful.—
Clifford Ward,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Corrections staff attempted life-saving measures but were unsuccessful, according to the MDOC.—
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In April 1951, 16-year-old Barbara Rose Johns organized a student strike to protest the shabby conditions and inadequate education at her segregated Black high school in Prince Edward County, Virginia.—
Jonathan Entin,
The Conversation,
2 Apr. 2026
-
But House Republican leader Vincent Candelora of North Branford blasted the Democratic proposal as inadequate in a state with many needs.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The diagnosis was announced Thursday by Coroner Ian Telford, who is conducting a preliminary hearing into the death of Shane Christie who died in August aged 39.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The 15-year-old was taken to a local hospital and died less than an hour later, according to police.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Some players collapsed onto the turf in joyful tears.—
Albert Samaha,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Estrada Juarez collapsed into her daughter’s embrace.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In an interview with public radio station France Inter on Monday morning, Bagayoko said he was disappointed that the presidential palace had not condemned the comments, although Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez and Culture Minister Catherine Pégard both denounced them.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Millions of golf fans expected to see Woods locked in and focused at Augusta in two weeks, not disheveled and disappointed in a mugshot from a Florida jail.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But, Scanlon noted, the budget was weakened by federal policy changes.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Shipping and insurance costs, inflation and uncertainty are on the rise, and with currencies in developing countries now weakened, imports such as fuel and food are even more expensive for residents.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Propped against this narrow counter, with a steady stream of market-goers filling the street, Cami had passed her a sheaf of forms to sign and Ember, already impatient, promised to leave them on her desk before the weekend, then slotted them into her bag and immediately forgot.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The consensus view forgot something basic about human beings.—
Gary Shapiro,
Fortune,
1 Apr. 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 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
