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

Their exchange revived a rivalry dating back to Musk's failed 2018 bid to take control of OpenAI. — Diane Brady, Fortune, 14 July 2026

McGregor went to the mat two more times in failed attempts to continue before the scheduled five-round match was halted by the referee. — ABC News, 13 July 2026

JadePuffer went from a failed login to a working fix in 31 seconds, according to Sysdig and TechCrunch. — Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

The latter was the leader of a failed uprising against the ruling Elizabeth 1, and the weeping stag was often used as a symbol adopted by the Earl’s supporters. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 9 July 2026

Wilde, in her third directorial offering, co-stars as a stay-at-home-mom who, to the consternation of her failed musician husband, Joe, has invited the freewheeling couple upstairs to dinner. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 7 July 2026

After the failed 2024/2025 merger, the two companies, along with Mitsubishi, have sought to collaborate in a more limited capacity and standardize electronic control units between them. — Adam Ismail, The Drive, 1 July 2026

Hershey centers on the titular businessman’s efforts to launch his eponymous chocolate company after numerous failed attempts. — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 29 June 2026

The violence, described as a failed insurrection by President Cyril Ramaphosa, vandalized more than 160 shopping malls, led to tens of thousands of job losses, and cost the economy roughly $3 billion. — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 29 June 2026

Verb

But her healthcare providers failed to properly diagnose and treat her condition, the lawsuit alleges. — Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 20 July 2026

There was Kylian Mbappe, lethal and prolific, even after France failed to make a third straight final. — Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 20 July 2026

The division concluded that the medical schools at UC Davis and UCLA racially discriminated against white and Asian applicants and that UCLA failed to adequately respond to complaints of antisemitic harassment of Jewish and Israeli students. — Ben Wieder, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026

Griffin Canning allowed four runs in 3⅔ innings, marking the 10th time in the past 18 games and 24th time this season a Padres starter failed to get through five innings while allowing three or more runs. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2026

Prices for memory chips have skyrocketed in recent months as supply has failed to keep up with demand stemming from the AI boom. — J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 19 July 2026

Ginsburg misjudged an unknowable future; Biden failed to respond to a visible present. — Michael Sonnenfeldt, Fortune, 19 July 2026

In their investigation of the incident, Virginia regulators alleged The Vero had failed to assume responsibility for the health, safety, and well-being of its residents. — Jordan Rau, NPR, 19 July 2026

Trump’s past attempts to broker a peace between Russia and Ukraine have failed to bring about an agreement. — Reuters, NBC news, 5 July 2026