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
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Recent Examples of failure
During the broadband explosion in the late 1990s, the broadband services division of Enron aimed to sell unused capacity on its network of fiber optic cables prior to the company’s spectacular failure.
—
Tobias Burns, CNBC, 12 May 2026
That pump's failure has been blamed for the second of two power outages in the moments leading up to the collision.
—Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 12 May 2026
However, Rayner resigned as deputy last year following a scandal over her failure to pay enough property tax on a second home.
—Isa Soares, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
Similar story in Milwaukee, where Antetokounmpo’s Bucks went all in for Damian Lillard and have nothing but failure to show for it.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for failure
Tobias Burns, CNBC, 12 May 2026
That pump's failure has been blamed for the second of two power outages in the moments leading up to the collision.
—Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 12 May 2026
However, Rayner resigned as deputy last year following a scandal over her failure to pay enough property tax on a second home.
—Isa Soares, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
Similar story in Milwaukee, where Antetokounmpo’s Bucks went all in for Damian Lillard and have nothing but failure to show for it.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for failure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for failure
Noun
-
The lawsuit accuses federal agents of assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, false imprisonment, false arrest, and gross negligence.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
-
Thai police charged a train driver with negligence after a crash on Saturday in central Bangkok killed eight and injured 32.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Burton finished with 16 points on 5-of-15 shooting in the first defeat for Golden State (2-1).—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
-
On Wednesday, his son’s header was responsible for the Quakes’ first defeat since a 1-0 home loss to these Sounders on March 15.—
Jon Becker,
Mercury News,
14 May 2026
Noun
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Boeing has reached confidential pre-trial settlements in most of the dozens of wrongful death lawsuits filed in connection with the Ethiopian Airlines disaster and a similar 737 Max crash five months earlier off the coast of Indonesia that together killed 346 people.—
Rio Yamat,
Fortune,
15 May 2026
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But the 48-year-old former San Francisco County supervisor’s solution — a single-payer-style public disaster insurance program — is poorly defined and presents an enormous risk for a state struggling with chronic deficits.—
Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
American officials also said Beijing would address rare earth shortages, although this was not mentioned in the corresponding statement from China.—
Leonie Kidd,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
-
There is no shortage of choices, from fast-growing bushes for a privacy hedge, evergreen shrubs that provide year-round color in your yard, or flowering shrubs with gorgeous blooms in the spring or summer.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Tiger Restaurant & Lounge has closed its downtown Sacramento K Street location, just over two months after filing for bankruptcy.—
Emma Hall,
Sacbee.com,
16 May 2026
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Sphere’s shares have been on a tear, up 42% year-to-date and 455% from its 2025 April low, when leisure stocks were dragged down by an escalating trade war, and Sphere faced potential bankruptcy for its MSG Networks division.—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
The following morning, on May 10, Pierrecius, 32, was arrested and charged with child neglect causing great bodily harm, according to police.—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
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John Cassidy explains why » More Top Stories Nearly two dozen kids living together in Los Angeles were found at risk of abuse and neglect.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
The collapse of the government is unlikely to significantly affect Latvia’s foreign policy, as all mainstream parties are some variant of pro-Ukraine and anti-Russia.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
15 May 2026
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This explains why companies did not experience a commercial-traffic collapse.—
Ming Zhu,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
The guard admitted he was surprised by the lack of questions about his medical status but voiced confidence that the issue would not continue into his NBA career.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2026
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The defense has detailed the lack of physical evidence — no DNA or blood was found on Murdaugh or any of his clothes, even though the killings were at close range with powerful weapons that were never found.—
Jeffrey Collins,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Failure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failure. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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