1
as in negligence
the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action
your failure to check the batteries in the smoke detector could have tragic results
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in defeat
a falling short of one's goals
the failure of the school's fund-raising drive was a big disappointment to all
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disaster
something that has failed
the students' first attempt to build a homemade rocket was a disappointing failure
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in shortage
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number
the failure of the potato crop had a devastating effect on the population of Ireland
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in bankruptcy
the inability to pay one's debts
years of prolonged economic depression, when business failures were common
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of failure
Congress should examine what happened, address any failures, and make sure FEMA has the ability to respond effectively to future disasters.
—
Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025
This is something mass media and mobile systems cannot guarantee, especially during infrastructure failures such as power and cell tower outages.
—Hamilton Bean, The Conversation, 11 July 2025
The auto safety authority received six consumer complaints alleging loss of power due to pump failure.
—Nilutpal Timsina, Freep.com, 11 July 2025
The feeder has anti-jam technology, low food detection sensors, and a backup battery in case of power failure.
—Molly Higgins, Wired News, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for failure
Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025
This is something mass media and mobile systems cannot guarantee, especially during infrastructure failures such as power and cell tower outages.
—Hamilton Bean, The Conversation, 11 July 2025
The auto safety authority received six consumer complaints alleging loss of power due to pump failure.
—Nilutpal Timsina, Freep.com, 11 July 2025
The feeder has anti-jam technology, low food detection sensors, and a backup battery in case of power failure.
—Molly Higgins, Wired News, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for failure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for failure
Noun
-
There had to be some human hand at work engineering this great misfortune — even if only through negligence.—
The Editors,
National Review,
7 July 2025
-
The lawsuit alleges negligent infliction of emotional distress and negligence, according to the Connecticut Mirror. Anthony Spinella, her attorney, told the Connecticut Mirror that Ortiz was seeking $3 million in damages.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
6 July 2025
Noun
-
The reigning world champions had inflicted a 7-1 defeat on Portugal in April.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
4 July 2025
-
Calgary is coming off a defeat, however, having most recently fallen 20-12 to the previously 0-2 Ottawa Redblacks.—
Kilty Cleary,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 July 2025
Noun
-
As someone takes on roles that have elements of power associated with it, that can be a recipe for disaster.—
Heather V. MacArthur,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
-
The toxic combination led rebel Republican Sen. Thom Tillis to denounce it as a political disaster.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
30 June 2025
Noun
-
Meanwhile, Californians feel the effects of the shortage of at least 3 million homes in their pocketbooks.—
Laura Friedman,
Oc Register,
7 July 2025
-
Raising a dam also raises the risk of downstream water shortages, ecological disruption, and international tension.—
Joe Salas
July 06,
New Atlas,
6 July 2025
Noun
-
In the event of bankruptcy, stablecoin holders are prioritized for repayment.—
Becca Bratcher,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
-
Dayton, a small community near Chattanooga, had lost a factory to bankruptcy and needed the boost.—
Paige Williams,
New Yorker,
13 July 2025
Noun
-
Police always investigate a drowning to rule out cases of abuse or extreme neglect, but an absent-minded parent accidentally forgetting to lock the pool gate or door to the backyard was unlikely to land them behind bars, Hoskin said.—
Elena Santa Cruz,
AZCentral.com,
12 July 2025
-
Not only in the United States, where academic medical centers (AMCs) are strained by politics, profit models and bureaucracy—but also in countries like Mexico, where health systems are crumbling under neglect and underfunding.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
Metallica famously initiated the landmark lawsuit against peer-to-peer file sharing company Napster in 2000, which led to further suits that ultimately caused the company's initial collapse.—
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 July 2025
-
Automatic proposal drafting, data ingestion, and benchmarking collapse non-billable hours, freeing margin that can be redeployed as fee discounts or reinvested in service upgrades or tooling.—
Noah Ohrner,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
The lack of responsibility is built into the City Charter.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 July 2025
-
So often, projects don’t get off the ground because of lack of funding.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
12 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Failure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failure. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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