1
as in died
to stop functioning
my car failed just as I was about to head to work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
1
as in unsuccessful
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in inadequate
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of failed
Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2025
At least before there was Fidel, this mythical figure, but Cuba now is a failed nation.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
Kumar has mounted three failed bids for Congress as a Democrat.
—Mercury News Editorial, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
The two met in 1953, married a year later, and continued as a performing duo into the Eighties, which included working on a failed sitcom, The Stiller and Meara Show.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2025
Douglas Elliman — The luxury real estate brokerage's shares fell 5% after Reuters reported a Wall Street watchdog is investigating alleged insider-trading activity linked to a failed bid to take over the firm.
—Christina Cheddar Berk, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2025
After decades of research and failed efforts, scientists have produced a bumper crop of game-changing RSV vaccines and immunizations to protect the most vulnerable people.
—Liz Szabo, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2025
After three failed efforts to take StubHub public, cofounder Eric Baker finally got his wish Wednesday as the online ticket marketplace began trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
—Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Like Kraft, the failed candidate for Boston mayor, Leventhal is a wealthy philanthropist who is out of touch with ordinary voters.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 18 Sep. 2025
Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2025
Bell concluded that the plaintiffs failed to show that their data was misused as a result of the breach.
—Chase Jordan
october 2, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2025
The federal government shut down on Wednesday after a deadlocked Congress failed to reach a funding deal to keep the lights on.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
Democratic and Republican lawmakers are at an impasse after dueling proposals on the senate floor failed Wednesday.
—October 2, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
Taiwan failed to pass an August referendum on whether or not a nuclear plant should be restarted, if it were deemed safe to operate.
—Yu-Tzu Chiu, IEEE Spectrum, 2 Oct. 2025
The team has failed to win a race all season, and the United States Grand Prix later this month will mark a year since Leclerc’s most recent victory.
—Luke Smith, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
This is the third time the bill has been brought to the floor and failed.
—Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 2 Oct. 2025
When Atsu was first revealed as the game’s protagonist, reactionaries jumped to disavow the sequel, citing bad-faith reasoning that failed to hide their prejudices.
—Alyssa Mercante, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
Analyzing a ‘failed star’ Astronomers don’t fully understand how brown dwarfs are formed.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2025
At least before there was Fidel, this mythical figure, but Cuba now is a failed nation.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
Kumar has mounted three failed bids for Congress as a Democrat.
—Mercury News Editorial, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
The two met in 1953, married a year later, and continued as a performing duo into the Eighties, which included working on a failed sitcom, The Stiller and Meara Show.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2025
Douglas Elliman — The luxury real estate brokerage's shares fell 5% after Reuters reported a Wall Street watchdog is investigating alleged insider-trading activity linked to a failed bid to take over the firm.
—Christina Cheddar Berk, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2025
After decades of research and failed efforts, scientists have produced a bumper crop of game-changing RSV vaccines and immunizations to protect the most vulnerable people.
—Liz Szabo, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2025
After three failed efforts to take StubHub public, cofounder Eric Baker finally got his wish Wednesday as the online ticket marketplace began trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
—Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Like Kraft, the failed candidate for Boston mayor, Leventhal is a wealthy philanthropist who is out of touch with ordinary voters.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Owners of The Grand, 1125 Grand Blvd, claim the parking lot’s owners have failed to provide adequate surveillance and security, and that their failure to do so has bred a hot spot for criminal activity.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2025
Bell concluded that the plaintiffs failed to show that their data was misused as a result of the breach.
—Chase Jordan
october 2, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2025
The federal government shut down on Wednesday after a deadlocked Congress failed to reach a funding deal to keep the lights on.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
Democratic and Republican lawmakers are at an impasse after dueling proposals on the senate floor failed Wednesday.
—October 2, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
Taiwan failed to pass an August referendum on whether or not a nuclear plant should be restarted, if it were deemed safe to operate.
—Yu-Tzu Chiu, IEEE Spectrum, 2 Oct. 2025
The team has failed to win a race all season, and the United States Grand Prix later this month will mark a year since Leclerc’s most recent victory.
—Luke Smith, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
This is the third time the bill has been brought to the floor and failed.
—Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 2 Oct. 2025
When Atsu was first revealed as the game’s protagonist, reactionaries jumped to disavow the sequel, citing bad-faith reasoning that failed to hide their prejudices.
—Alyssa Mercante, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for failed
Verb
-
In deference to the late, great Ryne Sandberg, who died from acute prostate cancer this past July at 65, this column about the current Cubs-Padres Wild Card Series at Wrigley Field is for him.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Police in Bavaria, the state where Munich is located, said the suspect was believed to be a 57-year-old German citizen who, according to preliminary findings, had died by suicide near a lake in northern Munich.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Smith has completely collapsed.—
Michael Salfino,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Last weekend, on this same stage at Forest Hills, singer-songwriter Lola Young collapsed during her set at All Things Go.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Reflecting on the movie, Farrell admitted that he was disappointed when he was only given five scenes in the project.—
Diana Lodderhose,
Deadline,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Like much of Saturday, though, KU’s defense disappointed.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Panthers are weakened without starting running back Chuba Hubbard.—
Mike Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Confidence in business conditions and job availability has weakened sharply, raising concerns that the spending power underpinning corporate growth could falter.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But the Dolphins, who needed cornerback help, never forgot him, signing him just before the start of training camp.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Twice on Sunday, in the most important game of the season, Mets players forgot the count.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The pose Harris struck and held through her unsuccessful 2024 campaign for the White House is called the good soldier.—
Jeremy Lott,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Now, after years of mostly unsuccessful efforts to eliminate windows from cabins, one luxury jet maker appears to be on the verge of doing just that.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The rapid expansion of psychedelic therapy has surfaced risks, like inadequate facilitator training and questionable consent practices in unregulated settings.—
Sonia Singh,
Rolling Stone,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Private pleas for Biden to show some heart were simply an inadequate response to the killing fields of Gaza, which anyone with eyes could recognize as a genocide.—
Book Marks
October 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
As Brown crashed hard onto the orange turf of the end zone, his helmet popped off, spinning several yards while Brown continued rolling with the ball clutched in his arms.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
2 Oct. 2025
-
In 1999, seeing that two Blue Angels crashed and were killed, Latham took it upon himself to mail two copies of poem to the Angels — without expectation of compensation, of course.—
Rick Mauch,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Failed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failed. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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