1
as in unsuccessful
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Dissimilar Words
2
as in inadequate
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in died
to stop functioning
my car failed just as I was about to head to work
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of failed
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 20 May 2026
But generally speaking, no matter the artist’s gender, most songs talk about relationships, many times failed ones, yet women will fill the rooms of men singing about those topics, and the opposite is not necessarily true—especially not in Lily’s case where her lyrics cut like razors.
—Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 13 May 2026
Miami’s past holds surprising stories of ambition and reinvention, from a Bulgarian artist wrapping islands in pink fabric to a failed bid to become the film capital of the world.
—Jeff Kleinman, Miami Herald, 9 May 2026
After her failed coup, Emily is poised for redemption and a rebrand…at Coach.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 8 May 2026
Details vary from region to region, but generally speaking, a kuntilanak was, in life, a woman who died during pregnancy or labor without successfully giving birth to a child (a failed mother, in short).
—Literary Hub, 5 May 2026
The professional athlete, in total, has had four D&Cs, a surgical procedure often performed after a miscarriage during which the cervix is dilated so that abnormal tissue can be removed from the uterine lining, per Johns Hopkins Medicine, six failed IVF transfers and eight egg retrievals.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
Coleman suffered from congenital, progressive kidney disease throughout his life and underwent two failed transplants.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
Besides Senator Niello's failed bill, there are several other proposals still alive seeking to revamp the elderly parole program.
—Steve Large, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Rafael Perez, Daily News, 28 May 2026
Palace were fortunate that Rayo failed to convert two good first-half chances.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Authorities suspect that the cooling system responsible for maintaining the temperature of the tank filled with methyl methacrylate, or MMA, failed.
—Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2026
Vehicles are damaged, buildings are damaged, mechanical equipment is damaged, collapsed and failed.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 27 May 2026
Clyburn appeared in Charlotte the same day the South Carolina Senate failed to advance a redistricting plan that would’ve drawn the veteran congressman out of his seat.
—Mary Ramsey
may 26, Charlotte Observer, 27 May 2026
The deal comes after a 2025 lawsuit settlement that pitted Zone 7 against Pleasanton over $18 million in fees the city allegedly failed to collect from customers between 2016 and 2024, after the city upgraded its water metering system.
—Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 27 May 2026
The criticism comes as MacDonough has determined that security funding for the White House complex, including the under-construction ballroom, failed to comply with reconciliation rules and would not be able to skirt a filibuster with the rest of the measure.
—Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 20 May 2026
Investigators believe the parents failed to alert hospital staff after seeing the infant in medical distress.
—Joe Brandt, CBS News, 20 May 2026
Adjective
Surely this scheme would go the way of his failed casinos, airlines, and other imploded ventures.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 20 May 2026
But generally speaking, no matter the artist’s gender, most songs talk about relationships, many times failed ones, yet women will fill the rooms of men singing about those topics, and the opposite is not necessarily true—especially not in Lily’s case where her lyrics cut like razors.
—Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 13 May 2026
Miami’s past holds surprising stories of ambition and reinvention, from a Bulgarian artist wrapping islands in pink fabric to a failed bid to become the film capital of the world.
—Jeff Kleinman, Miami Herald, 9 May 2026
After her failed coup, Emily is poised for redemption and a rebrand…at Coach.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 8 May 2026
Details vary from region to region, but generally speaking, a kuntilanak was, in life, a woman who died during pregnancy or labor without successfully giving birth to a child (a failed mother, in short).
—Literary Hub, 5 May 2026
The professional athlete, in total, has had four D&Cs, a surgical procedure often performed after a miscarriage during which the cervix is dilated so that abnormal tissue can be removed from the uterine lining, per Johns Hopkins Medicine, six failed IVF transfers and eight egg retrievals.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
Coleman suffered from congenital, progressive kidney disease throughout his life and underwent two failed transplants.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
Besides Senator Niello's failed bill, there are several other proposals still alive seeking to revamp the elderly parole program.
—Steve Large, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
Sokoloff continued the offensive, explaining that the controller is legally mandated to annually audit affordable housing programs but has failed to do so.
—Rafael Perez, Daily News, 28 May 2026
Palace were fortunate that Rayo failed to convert two good first-half chances.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Authorities suspect that the cooling system responsible for maintaining the temperature of the tank filled with methyl methacrylate, or MMA, failed.
—Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2026
Vehicles are damaged, buildings are damaged, mechanical equipment is damaged, collapsed and failed.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 27 May 2026
Clyburn appeared in Charlotte the same day the South Carolina Senate failed to advance a redistricting plan that would’ve drawn the veteran congressman out of his seat.
—Mary Ramsey
may 26, Charlotte Observer, 27 May 2026
The deal comes after a 2025 lawsuit settlement that pitted Zone 7 against Pleasanton over $18 million in fees the city allegedly failed to collect from customers between 2016 and 2024, after the city upgraded its water metering system.
—Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 27 May 2026
The criticism comes as MacDonough has determined that security funding for the White House complex, including the under-construction ballroom, failed to comply with reconciliation rules and would not be able to skirt a filibuster with the rest of the measure.
—Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 20 May 2026
Investigators believe the parents failed to alert hospital staff after seeing the infant in medical distress.
—Joe Brandt, CBS News, 20 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for failed
Adjective
-
Attempts to interview him were unsuccessful.—
Sierra van der Brug,
Daily News,
28 May 2026
-
Trump has denied Carroll’s allegations against him and tried to appeal both verdicts but has been unsuccessful in both cases, putting him on the verge of having to pay out millions.—
Alison Durkee,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
The public environment, uneven sidewalks, inadequate street lighting, limited places to rest, also contributes to fall risk at a population level that clinical interventions alone cannot address.—
Adaira Landry,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
The order also alleges Eastland allowed camp nurses to administer medications under inadequate standing orders between March and July 2025.—
S.E. Jenkins,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Kirtley, who retired this week, is the fourth winner of the John Borger award, which was named after the First Amendment attorney who died in 2019.—
Mars King,
Twin Cities,
28 May 2026
-
On the morning of Thursday July 3, 2025, the news broke that Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva had died in a car accident in Spain.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
The Arsia Mons volcano is of particular interest to NASA because the agency spotted holes in the shield where the volcanic ceiling had collapsed, leaving skylights behind and revealing a vast tunnel network within.—
Tom Brown,
Space.com,
25 May 2026
-
As the mine expanded, buildings fractured and some collapsed.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
Faye, disappointed to see that the safe has no money, blames Rue for the deception and screams to wake her boyfriend.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2026
-
Not that there’s a lack of intrigue here, but anyone expecting that a film called The Samurai and the Prisoner would be filled with chopsocky action scenes will be disappointed.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
The long-term confidentiality assumption built into these systems is already weakened, whether or not the users know it.—
Sandy Peng,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
Middle Eastern carriers faced severe operational strain amid the disruptions across airspace throughout the region that weakened regional connectivity, as certain countries still having full or partial closures at the time.—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Sambha remains one of the most recognizable characters in Indian cinema, and Mac Mohan brought a unique screen presence that audiences never forgot.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
23 May 2026
-
And while the baseballs encompass many different players and teams, the man from Pittsburgh never forgot about his hometown Buccos.—
Christopher DeRose,
CBS News,
23 May 2026
Adjective
-
The state graded the campus an F for three consecutive years, meaning two more failing grades could trigger an intervention.—
Noah Alcala Bach,
San Antonio Express-News,
1 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Failed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failed. Accessed 29 May. 2026.
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