as in weaknesses
a defect in character
we could talk about your failings, but it would take all night
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Recent Examples of failings
The central role of Nanno – an enigmatic transfer student whose uncanny insight into the moral failings of those around her drives each episode’s reckoning – is taken by 20-year-old Nakajima Arisa in her screen debut.
—
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 Mar. 2026
For this to be a win for the Avalanche, Roy’s decline needs to have more to do with fit, system and general Leafs stink than Roy’s own personal failings.
—Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Read Credit Suisse’s own post-mortem report on its Archegos failings, prepared by law firm Paul Weiss.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 25 Feb. 2026
The dragon is a talker, with his own take on modern society and George’s personal failings.
—Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 24 Feb. 2026
For all the federation’s failings, Kuper remains a passionate follower of World Cup soccer.
—Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
But Jackson will also be remembered for private failings that left him repeatedly seeking public forgiveness.
—Mark Whitaker, CBS News, 22 Feb. 2026
The findings were damning for both Boeing and NASA, describing inadequate testing, breakdowns in communication and leadership failings on both sides.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 19 Feb. 2026
The report claimed these changes were made to minimize the city and fire department’s failings.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 5 Feb. 2026
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 Mar. 2026
For this to be a win for the Avalanche, Roy’s decline needs to have more to do with fit, system and general Leafs stink than Roy’s own personal failings.
—Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Read Credit Suisse’s own post-mortem report on its Archegos failings, prepared by law firm Paul Weiss.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 25 Feb. 2026
The dragon is a talker, with his own take on modern society and George’s personal failings.
—Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 24 Feb. 2026
For all the federation’s failings, Kuper remains a passionate follower of World Cup soccer.
—Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
But Jackson will also be remembered for private failings that left him repeatedly seeking public forgiveness.
—Mark Whitaker, CBS News, 22 Feb. 2026
The findings were damning for both Boeing and NASA, describing inadequate testing, breakdowns in communication and leadership failings on both sides.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 19 Feb. 2026
The report claimed these changes were made to minimize the city and fire department’s failings.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 5 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for failings
Noun
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These were analyzing their own strengths and opponents’ weaknesses, forecasting what steps the opponents would take, and making a decision on what to do next.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Mar. 2026
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This provides an opportunity to investigate the weaknesses of the case for the conflict, along with the possibility of success and the risks of failure.—
David French,
Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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For all their faults, looksmaxxers are intent on de-fetishizing this particular commodity, revealing beauty to be the product of strenuous (and often deranging) labor.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
7 Mar. 2026
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Restaurant operators acknowledged their own faults for lengthening the permit process, including by providing incorrect or incomplete information, according to the report.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Don’t worry about the sins of the past, mistakes of the past, or background or heritage or whatever.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
2 Mar. 2026
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Meanwhile, the boy’s father, Brendan (Wallace), is all in on the notion, perhaps as a way of atoning for his own past marital sins.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Addressing policy gaps and systemic shortcomings now is a necessary step to building true wraparound support for families.—
Sierra Leone Starks,
Parents,
3 Mar. 2026
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Wealth tax proponents acknowledge some of the shortcomings of European wealth taxes.—
Jared Walczak,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Failings.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failings. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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