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

Marc Klaas, Polly’s father, has since emerged as a Newsom critic, after the 2019 execution moratorium and more recently during the failed 2021 recall. — Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2026

Elon Musk, the world's richest man and the cycle's largest individual political donor, spent record sums in a failed effort to help Republicans retain power, including in Texas. — Garrett Downs,mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2026

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

Verb

After Pittsburgh failed to score during nearly 4½ straight minutes of power-play time early in the second, Gauthier beat Silovs with a beautiful no-look shot for his first goal. — Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2026

The administration says longstanding federal policy of getting people into permanent housing first, then offering voluntary treatment, has failed, and is to blame for the pandemic spike in homelessness. — Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 8 Nov. 2026

The Chargers then got consecutive field goals but failed to take advantage of a Stroud interception that saw their second drive bog down near the red zone. — Peter Warren, Houston Chronicle, 8 Nov. 2026

Batavia trailed 14-0 in the first quarter, but the Bulldogs failed to convert on fourth down from the Brother Rice 15 in between those TDs. — Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 8 Nov. 2026

The Bengals failed to convert on third down only once in the first half and didn’t punt until their first drive in the second half. — ABC News, 8 Nov. 2026

In the four years since AI first became broadly available as a commercial product, these productivity returns have mostly failed to materialize. — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 8 Nov. 2026

The Chiefs failed to score and lost 28-24, leading to questions for Chiefs coach Andy Reid and Mahomes all week. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 8 Nov. 2026

Both the pedal and the single failed to catch on with the music-playing public upon release in 1967. — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 8 Nov. 2026