Thesaurus
Synonyms & Antonyms of failure
1
the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action
- your failure to check the batteries in the smoke detector could have tragic results
Synonyms for failure
Words Related to failure
Near Antonyms for failure
- compliance,
- discharge,
- fulfillment
- (or fulfilment)
2
a falling short of one's goals
- the failure of the school's fund-raising drive was a big disappointment to all
Synonyms for failure
Words Related to failure
Near Antonyms for failure
Antonyms for failure
3
something that has failed
- the students' first attempt to build a homemade rocket was a disappointing failure
Synonyms for failure
Words Related to failure
Near Antonyms for failure
- corker,
- crackerjack
- (also crackajack),
- dandy,
- jim-dandy,
- phenomenon
Antonyms for failure
- blockbuster,
- hit,
- smash,
- success,
- winner
4
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 for failure
- crunch,
- dearth,
- deficiency,
- deficit,
- drought
- (also drouth),
- famine,
- inadequacy,
- inadequateness,
- insufficiency,
- lack,
- lacuna,
- paucity,
- pinch,
- poverty,
- scantiness,
- scarceness,
- scarcity,
- shortage,
- undersupply,
- want
Words Related to failure
Near Antonyms for failure
Antonyms for failure
5
the inability to pay one's debts
- years of prolonged economic depression, when business failures were common
Synonyms for failure
Words Related to failure
Antonyms for failure
- solvency
Keep scrolling for more
Learn More About failure
Cite this Entry
“Failure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failure. Accessed 19 Oct. 2021.
Style: MLA
MLA
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Test Your Vocabulary
Farm Idioms Quiz
-
- What does 'poke' refer to in the expression 'pig in a poke'?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
Share failure
Time Traveler for failure
The first known use of failure was in 1643
See more words from the same year