Synonyms of failure

failure

noun

ˈfāl-yər 

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

• negligence
• neglect
• default
• oversight
• delinquency
• nonfeasance
• carelessness
• misprision
• dereliction
• inadvertence
• laxity
• inadvertency
• heedlessness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• compliance
• discharge
• fulfillment

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

• defeat
• collapse
• crash
• setback
• disappointment
• deficiency
• cropper
• futility
• fizzle
• nonachievement
• ineffectiveness
• nonsuccess
• uselessness
• inadequacy
• ineffectuality
• inefficacy
• insufficiency
• ineffectualness
• letdown
• inadequateness
• inefficaciousness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• success
• achievement
• accomplishment
• victory
• win

3

as in disaster

something that has failed

the students' first attempt to build a homemade rocket was a disappointing failure

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disaster
• catastrophe
• disappointment
• loser
• fiasco
• bust
• miss
• bomb
• debacle
• flop
• washout
• shipwreck
• mess
• frost
• dud
• fizzle
• lemon
• clinker
• clunker
• bummer
• has-been
• turkey
• botch
• dog
• hash
• shambles
• also-ran
• near miss
• nonevent
• nonstarter
• muddle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• success
• hit
• winner
• blockbuster
• smash
• phenomenon
• crackerjack
• corker
• dandy
• jim-dandy

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

• shortage
• lack
• deficiency
• inadequacy
• deficit
• absence
• insufficiency
• scarcity
• drought
• paucity
• poverty
• famine
• inadequateness
• crunch
• dearth
• omission
• lacuna
• scantiness
• undersupply
• pinch
• scarceness
• want
• necessity
• privation
• need
• meagerness
• poorness
• skimpiness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• adequacy
• sufficiency
• abundance
• amplitude
• wealth
• plenty
• opulence
• plenitude
• excess
• surplus
• oversupply
• overabundance
• surfeit
• bountifulness
• copiousness

5

as in bankruptcy

the inability to pay one's debts

years of prolonged economic depression, when business failures were common

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bankruptcy
• ruin
• insolvency
• Chapter 11

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of failure

The fact that the warning clears after a restart suggests an intermittent fault rather than a major component failure. — John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs and Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 15 Aug. 2026

Welch has described his mishandling of this matter as a systemic failure. — David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026

Despite his failures to win the big games, Franklin won at a level plenty of schools and fan bases would welcome. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026

For many, the scene unfolding in Qusra — now in its sixth day — reflected broader failures by Israeli authorities to curb the violence in the West Bank. — Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026