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 report cited two failed radio transmissions and limited visibility through night-vision goggles, and urged safety reviews of Army helicopter operations in cities including Los Angeles. — Josh Funk, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026

With less than two minutes left and Kansas City holding onto a 30-27 lead, the Chiefs botched the snap, leading to a failed third-down conversion that would have iced the game. — Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2026

The failed effort to kill Christa Pike has placed a harsh spotlight on the practice of capital punishment in America, one of 17 countries to carry out an execution last year, as well as the regularity with which those executions go awry. — New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026

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

Verb

The Ducks failed, with Tyson Ford and Jalen Woods stuffing Thomas on the one-yard line. — Elias Esquivel, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026

Court records show that attorneys representing Marshall repeatedly asked judges to issue arrest warrants for former patients who failed to appear in court. — Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2026

For Kumari's family, making their house livable meant securing something that burst of fame had failed to deliver on — a more stable place from which to build their lives. — Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR, 11 Oct. 2026

Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, and the federal government last week held talks to postpone the march but failed to reach a resolution. — ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026

Omani officials knew of al-Hammami’s interest in radical Islamism but failed to flag their concerns; flydubai never checked his record with the Omani authorities. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 10 Oct. 2026

The gamble failed, as Indiana forced an incompletion and took over on downs, despite Nebraska still having two timeouts and the two-minute warning. — Ryan Canfield Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026

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