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

Each has previously made failed bids for federal office in Idaho. — Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 23 Oct. 2026

Hamas officials blamed Israel for the hospital deaths, while Israel attributed the blast to a failed, errant rocket launched from within Gaza by Palestinian Islamic Jihad. — Asra Q. Nomani, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026

In 2010, Ackman made a failed bid to merge Borders with Barnes & Noble. — Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Our children are paying the price for failed leadership and misplaced priorities. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Law & Courts A failed execution in Tennessee and plans to livestream a firing squad are recharging America’s death penalty debate, raising questions about morality and justice. — Patrik Jonsson, Christian Science Monitor, 10 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

Verb

But Willis’ pass to Greg Dulcich was incomplete on a two-point conversion attempt and Miami failed to recover an onside kick. — Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026

Unfortunately, as this series notes, the federal government has failed to meaningfully address this crisis affecting families and communities across Illinois and beyond. — Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026

The game came down to its final moments, but after two failed UNC onside kicks, Miami ran down the clock. — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2026

El-Sayed has failed to show basic respect to the woman who conceded and urged her supporters to vote for him. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 1 Nov. 2026

Those services helped Ron Patrick, who spent years caring for his wife, Vangie, as her health declined, her knees failed, her falls increased and dementia set in. — Raginee Sudhir Chaurey, CNN Money, 1 Nov. 2026

Since democracy was restored in 1989, no candidate who failed to win the first round of voting has gone on to win the presidency in the second round. — Catherine Osborn, NPR, 26 Oct. 2026

That plan failed when then-Senate President Susan Wagle refused to bring the bill to the floor for a vote. — Jack Harvel october 25, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2026

Aiello’s departure came as a result, in part, because top Weil leaders including Wolf failed to lay out a convincing long-term vision for the firm, according to a person familiar with his thinking. — Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 25 Oct. 2026