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
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of failed
Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 4 Nov. 2025
The offense marched down the field drive after drive following those first three failed attempts, taking advantage of short fields presented to them by punt returns and takeaways.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Early on, each test had generally improved upon previous demonstrations until SpaceX hit some setbacks at the beginning of 2025 with a series of three failed tests ending in explosions.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
The Senate departed for the weekend on Thursday following a 10th failed vote on the clean GOP measure, and the House has been on recess for the past four weeks in a bid to pressure Democrats to accept that bill.
—Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2025
The defense wasn’t tired because there weren’t several quick, failed drives by the offense.
—Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2025
In fact, poor connectivity alone accounts for 55% of failed charging sessions, according to the Electrification Institute.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
So far, lawmakers have held six failed votes, and today's attempt is expected to have the same outcome.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 9 Oct. 2025
San Marcos’ only loss came in Week 1, when a failed 2-point conversion led to a 28-27 loss to Mount Miguel.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Oct. 2025
Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
If the main goal was to drive African Americans away, the laws failed.
—Equal Justice Initiative, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
When a grand jury failed to indict him on that charge, the case was downgraded to a misdemeanor charge for assaulting a federal officer.
—Carrie Johnson, NPR, 6 Nov. 2025
States in the upper and lower reaches of the basin have struggled for two years to find a workable agreement and failed.
—Austin Corona, AZCentral.com, 6 Nov. 2025
While Zwerner’s pain and suffering have taken center stage in this trial, the upcoming criminal trial would be more likely to touch on what action Parker failed to take, given her duty to protect children, Brown said.
—Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Seeing as how the first tribe swap failed to shake anything up and gave us two more obvious telegraphed votes, the producers decided to blow it all up again and expand back to three tribes.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
But efforts to drag the barge to the site via helicopter failed, with the icebreaker getting stuck in ice and mud.
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Yet, in the end, each of those wagers failed, leading to this moment.
—Andy Browne, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Van Orden called the ACA is a failed program and said talks to improve it could happen after the shutdown ends.
—Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 4 Nov. 2025
The offense marched down the field drive after drive following those first three failed attempts, taking advantage of short fields presented to them by punt returns and takeaways.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Early on, each test had generally improved upon previous demonstrations until SpaceX hit some setbacks at the beginning of 2025 with a series of three failed tests ending in explosions.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
The Senate departed for the weekend on Thursday following a 10th failed vote on the clean GOP measure, and the House has been on recess for the past four weeks in a bid to pressure Democrats to accept that bill.
—Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2025
The defense wasn’t tired because there weren’t several quick, failed drives by the offense.
—Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2025
In fact, poor connectivity alone accounts for 55% of failed charging sessions, according to the Electrification Institute.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
So far, lawmakers have held six failed votes, and today's attempt is expected to have the same outcome.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 9 Oct. 2025
San Marcos’ only loss came in Week 1, when a failed 2-point conversion led to a 28-27 loss to Mount Miguel.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
The shutdown began after Democrats and Republicans failed to agree on a government funding bill.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
If the main goal was to drive African Americans away, the laws failed.
—Equal Justice Initiative, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
When a grand jury failed to indict him on that charge, the case was downgraded to a misdemeanor charge for assaulting a federal officer.
—Carrie Johnson, NPR, 6 Nov. 2025
States in the upper and lower reaches of the basin have struggled for two years to find a workable agreement and failed.
—Austin Corona, AZCentral.com, 6 Nov. 2025
While Zwerner’s pain and suffering have taken center stage in this trial, the upcoming criminal trial would be more likely to touch on what action Parker failed to take, given her duty to protect children, Brown said.
—Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Seeing as how the first tribe swap failed to shake anything up and gave us two more obvious telegraphed votes, the producers decided to blow it all up again and expand back to three tribes.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
But efforts to drag the barge to the site via helicopter failed, with the icebreaker getting stuck in ice and mud.
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Yet, in the end, each of those wagers failed, leading to this moment.
—Andy Browne, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for failed
Adjective
-
Barkan’s was one of several unsuccessful progressive campaigns Mamdani worked on before getting a job as a foreclosure prevention counselor at a nonprofit.—
Ben Adler,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
-
There have been a handful of topping bids this year, including an unsuccessful attempt by hedge fund Alden Global to beat out Hearst in its deal for the Dallas Morning News.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Furthermore, recent years have exposed significant professional failures—from the flawed coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic to inadequate reporting on President Biden’s cognitive health.—
David Wingrave,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The notion that the catastrophe stems from inadequate defense spending collapses the moment the interceptors fail.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Officials said most people died from drowning as the storm triggered flash floods and caused rivers to swell above their danger levels.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
-
My grandmother, on the other hand, lived for another 25 years after her husband died—which meant my relationship with her extended well into my 30s.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The 20-year-old defenseman collapsed to the ice after the puck went in.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Shortly after their conversation, Forrest learned Phoenix had collapsed and was seizing on the sidewalk outside of the nightclub.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Residents or guests who are more excited about rest and relaxation won’t be disappointed either.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
3 Nov. 2025
-
On the other hand, a small minority were disappointed with the reaction from parents.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
His paws began to knuckle and his back legs weakened.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
2 Nov. 2025
-
In addition to the GOP leaders, most rank-and-file Senate Republicans also oppose repealing the filibuster that’s been slowly weakened by both parties in recent decades for Executive Branch and judicial nominees.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Rustin ran his hand over his own neck and forgot his mission.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Her theory is that, in cleaning up the murder scene, the killer forgot to wipe the doorknob.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Following disappointing earnings results, the focus will be on building a future-fit portfolio with an attractive growth footprint.—
Vogue Business Team,
Vogue,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes are in the midst of a disappointing 3-6 college football campaign, fresh off a 52-17 loss to the Arizona Wildcats this past Saturday.—
Matt Audilet,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Failed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failed. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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