Synonyms of failed

failed 1 of 2

adjective

1

as in unsuccessful

Related Words

• unsuccessful
• failing
• inauspicious
• collapsing
• unpromising
• no-good
• washing-out
• declining
• destroyed
• bankrupt
• folding
• hopeless
• slipping
• waning
• flopping
• futureless
• flunking
• ruined
• wrecked
• slumping
• kerflooey
• kaput

Dissimilar Words

• successful
• going
• triumphant
• promising
• prosperous
• thriving
• flourishing
• coming
• robust
• palmy
• growing
• booming
• roaring

2

as in inadequate

Related Words

• inadequate
• disappointing
• deficient
• inferior
• atrocious
• normal
• representative
• typical
• unsatisfactory
• ordinary
• average
• vile
• poor
• wretched
• execrable
• substandard
• mediocre
• bad
• low-grade
• second-class
• second-rate

Dissimilar Words

• definitive
• model
• exemplary
• quintessential
• classic
• special
• paradigmatic
• unique
• ideal
• archetypal
• perfect
• flawless
• imitable
• textbook
• impeccable
• absolute
• nonpareil

failed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of fail

1

as in died

to stop functioning

my car failed just as I was about to head to work

Synonyms & Similar Words

• died
• crashed
• stalled
• broke
• cut out
• gave out
• broke down
• sputtered
• conked (out)
• fizzled
• jammed
• malfunctioned
• wheezed
• acted up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• started (up)

2

as in collapsed

to be unsuccessful

despite all the publicity, the movie failed miserably at the box office

Synonyms & Similar Words

• collapsed
• flopped
• struggled
• missed
• folded
• bombed
• flunked
• declined
• foundered
• struck out
• tanked
• came up empty
• fell short
• fell flat
• cratered
• crashed
• came to grief
• laid an egg
• washed out
• flamed out
• slipped
• came a cropper
• died on the vine
• floundered
• slumped
• skidded
• fell on one's face
• waned
• crumbled
• misfired
• sank
• miscarried
• imploded
• went under
• self-destructed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• succeeded
• went
• delivered
• worked out
• clicked
• went over
• came off
• flourished
• thrived
• cooked
• prospered
• won
• prevailed
• panned out
• triumphed

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

• disappointed
• dissatisfied
• let down
• upset
• cheated
• displeased
• deceived
• disillusioned
• distressed
• chagrined
• discontented
• disenchanted
• disgruntled
• deluded
• mocked
• bummed (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• satisfied
• gratified
• fulfilled
• contented
• gladdened

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

• weakened
• faded
• went
• sagged
• sank
• lagged
• deteriorated
• flagged
• decayed
• withered
• drooped
• wasted (away)
• languished
• wilted
• emaciated
• yielded
• broke down
• degenerated
• rotted
• wore out
• ran down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• recovered
• rallied
• rebounded
• recuperated
• gained
• convalesced

5

as in forgot

to miss the opportunity or obligation

failed to mention that he was looking for new job

Synonyms & Similar Words

• forgot
• neglected
• omitted
• ignored
• missed out on
• disregarded
• passed over
• defaulted
• skipped
• slipped
• overlooked
• slid
• pretermitted
• overpassed
• slighted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• remembered
• did
• observed
• kept
• performed
• executed
• carried out
• heeded
• practiced
• met
• satisfied
• fulfilled
• minded
• discharged
• complied (with)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of failed

Adjective

The failed execution of Christa Pike Wednesday night in Tennessee wasn’t the first time a lethal injection didn’t go as planned. — Meg Tirrell, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026

This was the second time this year that Tennessee had a failed execution. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026

After a complicated ownership saga that included a failed $190 million auction bid in 2023, the Brodsky Organization and Sorgente Group moved ahead with the residential conversion. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 30 Sep. 2026

The failed 2-point try and the defense's failure to get off the field coast them late. — ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026

The failed 2-point try and the defense’s failure to get off the field coast them late. — Michael Marot, Chicago Tribune, 26 Sep. 2026

Advertisement The war on terror represented a failed effort to impose a unipolar order on the world, one that could no longer rely on the economic instrumentality of globalization alone. — Faisal Devji, Time, 11 Sep. 2026

At the time, the Mets were playing particularly badly and making a lot of mistakes on the basepaths, so Ewing’s two failed attempts were somewhat magnified. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 8 Sep. 2026

This is the world in which a fast, failed impeachment may actually help Trump rally his party around him. — Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 2 Sep. 2026

Verb

But this bill has failed in both 2025 and 2026 to pass in Congress. — Kent Sepkowitz, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026

The drone bill has a detailed history as it was passed by the Senate in 2024 but failed on the final night of the legislative session when the state House of Representatives never voted on the measure as time expired. — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026

The Commanders failed to capitalize on two red zone opportunities in the first quarter, settling for field goals. — ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026

Despite the sloppy showing by BYU and a dominant defensive performance, TCU failed to capitalize, as the Horned Frogs continue to struggle to score against Power Four conference teams (averaging 11 points per game, all in losses). — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Oct. 2026

The Dolphins had two returns that were stopped at midfield by Miami’s kickers and punters, which means the special teams coverage unit failed to do its job of getting the Vikings’ returner down before reaching Miami’s last defender. — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2026

Some 2025 launches failed to recruit enough new consumers or generate enough incremental demand. — Bilin Lin, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2026

And only four times have the Royals had a winning record at the end of May and failed to achieve a winning season overall. — Kansas City Star, 4 Oct. 2026

Trump’s blunt talk and status as a celebrity businessman initially helped him in and around Dayton, where some said politics as usual had failed them. — Josh Boak, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026