Synonyms of fails

fails

verb

present tense third-person singular of fail

1

as in dies

to stop functioning

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dies
• crashes
• stalls
• breaks
• breaks down
• cuts out
• gives out
• fizzles
• sputters
• conks (out)
• wheezes
• jams
• malfunctions
• acts up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• starts (up)

2

as in collapses

to be unsuccessful

despite all the publicity, the movie failed miserably at the box office

Synonyms & Similar Words

• collapses
• misses
• flops
• struggles
• folds
• bombs
• flunks
• declines
• falls short
• strikes out
• tanks
• comes up empty
• falls flat
• lays an egg
• flames out
• crashes
• founders
• comes to grief
• comes a cropper
• washes out
• slips
• dies on the vine
• flounders
• crumbles
• craters
• wanes
• slumps
• falls on one's face
• sinks
• miscarries
• implodes
• skids
• misfires
• goes under
• self-destructs

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• succeeds
• goes
• delivers
• works out
• clicks
• goes over
• comes off
• thrives
• flourishes
• prevails
• cooks
• wins
• pans out
• prospers
• triumphs

3

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

• disappoints
• lets down
• cheats
• dissatisfies
• displeases
• upsets
• distresses
• deceives
• bums (out)
• disenchants
• disillusions
• mocks
• deludes
• discontents
• chagrins
• disgruntles

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• contents
• satisfies
• fulfills
• gratifies
• gladdens

4

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

• weakens
• fades
• goes
• sags
• sinks
• deteriorates
• lags
• droops
• languishes
• decays
• wilts
• withers
• wastes (away)
• flags
• emaciates
• wears out
• yields
• breaks down
• rots
• degenerates
• runs down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• recovers
• recuperates
• rallies
• rebounds
• gains
• convalesces

5

as in forgets

to miss the opportunity or obligation

failed to mention that he was looking for new job

Synonyms & Similar Words

• forgets
• neglects
• omits
• ignores
• disregards
• misses out on
• defaults
• passes over
• skips
• overlooks
• pretermits
• slides
• slips
• overpasses
• slights

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• remembers
• does
• minds
• observes
• keeps
• performs
• practices
• executes
• heeds
• meets
• satisfies
• fulfills
• carries out
• discharges
• complies (with)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of fails

The state’s latest energy plan fails to recognize and remedy this and portends a bleak, costly energy future, not to mention more pollution and higher health care costs. —Anshul Gupta, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026

Holly added that any topic related to her wedding never fails to bring tears to her father's eyes. —Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026

Superintendent Tracy Dorland has previously said the district will have to make more cuts if the ballot initiative fails. —Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2026

If that fails, the A’s can appeal through the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 7 Jan. 2026

The state accidentally keeps overpaying employees because its legacy payroll system, which dates back to the 1970s, fails to account for last-minute payroll changes, records obtained by The Sacramento Bee show. —William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 7 Jan. 2026

But this framing increasingly fails to persuade a population that has watched living standards decline while billions of dollars flow to foreign conflicts. —Kamran Talattof, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026

Another is that even if the search is conducted well, often the model fails to properly filter and sift the data from an initial search. —Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 6 Jan. 2026

The outcome is that the universe fails the Ellis-Baldwin test. —Subir Sarkar, Space.com, 5 Jan. 2026