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
Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 1 Apr. 2026
In 2024, North Korea claimed to have successfully testlaunched a multiwarhead missile, but South Korea quickly dismissed it as deception to cover up a failed launch.
—Arkansas Online, 30 Mar. 2026
In 2024, North Korea claimed to have successfully test-launched a multiwarhead missile, but South Korea quickly dismissed it as a deception to cover up a failed launch.
—CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
The displaced here have fled the drought that has ravaged swaths of this Horn of Africa nation after four failed rain seasons.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
And so that's why it's particularly concerning to see the administration revisit similar failed strategies.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
That included a failed bill that would have required agencies to apply for 287(g) cooperation agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
—Idaho Statesman, 26 Mar. 2026
Tolbert describes a failed 2024 agreement that would have included a roughly $300 million arena renovation and a long-term Stars commitment to Dallas.
—Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026
The book exposes the failed response to the opioid crisis and the blight in the drug rehabilitation industry.
—Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026
Tom Dougherty, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026
The implication is that she got distracted and failed to notice the most important things.
—Brandy Jensen, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2026
During the hearing, Nexstar attorney Alexander Okuliar, argued against an injunction, saying the plaintiffs had failed to demonstrate that the merger posed an immediate threat to the public.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Jurors are being asked to decide whether the formula is unreasonably dangerous for certain preterm babies, whether Abbott failed to adequately warn about the dangers and risks of the formula, and whether Abbott was negligent.
—Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Without it, survivors will continue to be failed by the system that claims to serve them.
—Evangeline Chan, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026
But discussions between the chambers on allocations — top line budget numbers — that are needed to embark on formal negotiations on the final spending plan, have so far failed to result in an agreement.
—News Service Of Florida, Sun Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026
The lawsuit alleges that the restaurant was negligent in its hiring of Gad and failed to enforce policies that could have prevented the accusations, the complaint states.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 1 Apr. 2026
Trump’s tariff policies failed.
—Angela Alsobrooks, Baltimore Sun, 1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Holmes, who was convicted on federal fraud charges related to her failed blood testing company, is not scheduled to be released until 2031.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 1 Apr. 2026
In 2024, North Korea claimed to have successfully testlaunched a multiwarhead missile, but South Korea quickly dismissed it as deception to cover up a failed launch.
—Arkansas Online, 30 Mar. 2026
In 2024, North Korea claimed to have successfully test-launched a multiwarhead missile, but South Korea quickly dismissed it as a deception to cover up a failed launch.
—CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
The displaced here have fled the drought that has ravaged swaths of this Horn of Africa nation after four failed rain seasons.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
And so that's why it's particularly concerning to see the administration revisit similar failed strategies.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
That included a failed bill that would have required agencies to apply for 287(g) cooperation agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
—Idaho Statesman, 26 Mar. 2026
Tolbert describes a failed 2024 agreement that would have included a roughly $300 million arena renovation and a long-term Stars commitment to Dallas.
—Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026
The book exposes the failed response to the opioid crisis and the blight in the drug rehabilitation industry.
—Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026
Verb
Parker said a subcontractor working at the parking garage was in the process of installing precast concrete flooring, decking and roofing segments, and one of them failed.
—Tom Dougherty, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026
The implication is that she got distracted and failed to notice the most important things.
—Brandy Jensen, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2026
During the hearing, Nexstar attorney Alexander Okuliar, argued against an injunction, saying the plaintiffs had failed to demonstrate that the merger posed an immediate threat to the public.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Jurors are being asked to decide whether the formula is unreasonably dangerous for certain preterm babies, whether Abbott failed to adequately warn about the dangers and risks of the formula, and whether Abbott was negligent.
—Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Without it, survivors will continue to be failed by the system that claims to serve them.
—Evangeline Chan, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026
But discussions between the chambers on allocations — top line budget numbers — that are needed to embark on formal negotiations on the final spending plan, have so far failed to result in an agreement.
—News Service Of Florida, Sun Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026
The lawsuit alleges that the restaurant was negligent in its hiring of Gad and failed to enforce policies that could have prevented the accusations, the complaint states.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 1 Apr. 2026
Trump’s tariff policies failed.
—Angela Alsobrooks, Baltimore Sun, 1 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for failed
Adjective
-
Life-saving measures were unsuccessful.—
Forum News Service,
Twin Cities,
9 Apr. 2026
-
During the most recent campaign and in a previous unsuccessful run for mayor, Laesch claimed Irvin prioritized government contracts or incentives to those who donated to his campaign, which Irvin consistently denied.—
R. Christian Smith,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In addition to reinforcing the fiduciary standards that are already in place for community associations, this will help to establish stronger grounds for claims involving unilateral acts by directors, inadequate reserve planning, inconsistent rules enforcement, or failures in management oversight.—
Evonne Andris,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Instead of making the case that a city’s environmental review was inadequate, residents will now be more often forced to argue that CEQA even applies at all.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Merriweather’s office has dismissed about 106 homicide charges since 2020 — not including charges in which a defendant died, pleaded guilty, or wasn’t mentally competent to stand trial.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
-
One person has died, and two people are missing after a partial collapse at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia parking garage under construction in the city's Grays Ferry neighborhood Wednesday.—
Tom Dougherty,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As the operation collapsed, the messages show the men scrambling for protection and escape routes.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
-
In August 2021, as Kabul collapsed and Afghans crowded the gates of Hamid Karzai International Airport, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin — then a Republican member of Congress from Oklahoma — tried to travel to Afghanistan.—
Peter Lucier,
Washington Post,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Some people who live in nearby communities are disappointed by the delays.—
James Taylor,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
What has disappointed Vitello most about the Giants’ play through 10 games?—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday proposed weakened rules governing the safe disposal of ash produced by burning coal.—
Michael Phillis,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
-
But these strengths are being weakened by leadership that has failed to prioritize affordability and competitiveness.—
Randy Altschuler,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Now Larrañaga stopped a freshman who forgot one and asked the class to help.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Porziņģis played like a man who forgot the rules of physics, racking up five fouls in the third quarter—including two in the backcourt that were as unnecessary as a screen door on a submarine.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
6 Apr. 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 14 Apr. 2026.
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