FAILS Synonyms: 138 Similar and Opposite Words

fails

verb

Definition of fails next

present tense third-person singular of fail

as in dies

to stop functioning my car failed just as I was about to head to work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

starts (up)

as in collapses

to be unsuccessful despite all the publicity, the movie failed miserably at the box office

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in disappoints

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

as in weakens

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

as in forgets

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. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of fails The project honors Monroe, but sees her, first and almost exclusively, as a victim, one who Eddie Redmayne’s gentle production assistant tries and fails to save. —

Daniel D'addario, Variety, 1 June 2026 If, however, the discount fails to attract more customers, the retailer stands to lose money. —

Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026 The penalty shootout is a cursed affliction when the roulette wheel fails you, and that was Arsenal’s fate here. —

Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 31 May 2026 Biomimicry often fails when the design is too large, Hassanalian says, but is most efficient on the microscale. —

Tom Brown, Space.com, 25 May 2026 Between her thirst-trap selfies and fabulous rendezvous, the 84-year-old never fails to deliver in the content department. —

Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 25 May 2026 Officials also displayed a map that shows the blast zone if the tank fails and there is an explosion, as well as where the most severe damage of infrastructure is expected. —

Paris Barraza, USA Today, 24 May 2026 The tank fails and spills a total of about six to 7,000 gallons of very bad chemicals into the parking lot in that area. —

Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026 From the opposite direction come critics who argue the test fails to measure self-awareness even when an animal passes it. —

Federica Sgorbissa, ArsTechnica, 24 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fails

Verb

The pair is forced to live in their pool house while renting out their house, and the tension only increases when Moon’s lover and TV husband dies and her TV son (Stevie’s crush) arrives for the funeral.

— Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 30 May 2026
The show lives and dies on these brothers, their relationship with each other, and, of course, their indomitable Auntie Lucky, played to perfection by Poorna Jagannathan.

— Michelle Nader, IndieWire, 30 May 2026