1
as in to die
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 to collapse
to be unsuccessful
despite all the publicity, the movie failed miserably at the box office
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to disappoint
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 to weaken
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 to forget
to miss the opportunity or obligation
failed to mention that he was looking for new job
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in fault
a defect in character
we could talk about your failings, but it would take all night
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in dying
Related Words
1
as in crashing
to stop functioning
my car failed just as I was about to head to work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in collapsing
to be unsuccessful
despite all the publicity, the movie failed miserably at the box office
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disappointing
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 weakening
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 forgetting
to miss the opportunity or obligation
failed to mention that he was looking for new job
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of fail
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
30 June 2026
Minutes later, Haaland nearly doubled the Norwegian advantage on a close-range shot that was blocked, resulting in a corner that the imposing striker just failed to get on the end of.
—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
30 June 2026
David Greising,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
Despite the immeasurable impact of Juneteenth, many people don't begin celebrating it until later on in life, which often reflects a failing of American education and the rejection of critical race theory.
—
Danielle Broadway,
Parents,
19 June 2026
Noah Alcala Bach,
San Antonio Express-News,
1 Jan. 2026
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
1 July 2026
No wonder all those return-to-office initiatives are failing in California’s tech hubs—no one can afford to live anywhere close to the office.
—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for fail
Verb
After years of failing to get past the court of appeals, the Supreme Court agreed to hear both cases last July.
—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
30 June 2026
Minutes later, Haaland nearly doubled the Norwegian advantage on a close-range shot that was blocked, resulting in a corner that the imposing striker just failed to get on the end of.
—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
30 June 2026
Noun
An investigation by the Better Government Association’s Illinois Answers Project enumerated the most striking failings of the city’s anti-displacement efforts.
—
David Greising,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
Despite the immeasurable impact of Juneteenth, many people don't begin celebrating it until later on in life, which often reflects a failing of American education and the rejection of critical race theory.
—
Danielle Broadway,
Parents,
19 June 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
Verb
Adams, whose health had been failing, died at age 90 on his farm in Massachusetts.
—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
1 July 2026
No wonder all those return-to-office initiatives are failing in California’s tech hubs—no one can afford to live anywhere close to the office.
—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for fail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fail
Verb
-
Ramos’ two daughters –– Darling Antonella, seven, and Dulce María, two –– were staying with their grandparents and great-grandparents, who also died in the earthquakes.
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It was created in 2015 to honor the life and legacy of former ESPN broadcaster Stuart Scott, who died due to cancer earlier that year.
Verb
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The camaraderie was evident on the ground here in La Guaira, the coastal city where quake damage was most severe, collapsing dozens of buildings.
-
The dogs, specially trained to detect human scent, have spent days searching for people trapped beneath the rubble of nearly 200 buildings that collapsed following the two powerful back-to-back earthquakes.
Verb
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Tom Ayers, 34, was disappointed to find the fences already up on Monday.
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Asian national teams largely disappointed at the World Cup, with most exiting after the group stage, a stark contrast to African teams' historic success.
Verb
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The flow of dark traffic is one of the factors that helped explain why oil markets had weakened significantly by early June, together with a surge in exports from the US and pullback in buying by China.
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But as several surveys have consistently indicated, optimism about our country's outlook has undeniably weakened.
Verb
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Aaron Morris of San Francisco wanted to make sure the match would be one his father, Pancho, would never forget.
-
Then, just as suddenly, the din fades away, the focus shifts and the election process is forgotten until the next round of howling protest.
Verb
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The sheriff's office said Butler failed to maintain a single lane before leaving the roadway and crashing through the side of the home.
-
Balogun crashed into Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemović, landing his foot on top of Muharemović’s during the physical match.
Verb
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In the early days, the page teemed with posts sharing objects found, along with heartfelt and, at times, gut-wrenching pleas for missing personal items.
-
After making all six of his shots and four of his free throws on Friday, Lendeborg was 0 for 4 from the field and missed both of his foul shots in the first half.
Verb
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But rental business owners like Zhao observed that the rental prices have begun to slide as novelty surrounding these stunt-performing androids fades.
-
The combination of hyaluronic and azelaic acid does wonders to fade dark spots, soothe redness, and deeply hydrate.
Cite this Entry
“Fail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fail. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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