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
Advertisement In regard to homelessness, a key concern in the Golden State, Becerra has framed the issue as the result of policy failures in regards to both housing supplies and accountability.
—
Philip Wang, Time, 2 June 2026
Its crews responded quickly to the failure, preventing more sewage from spilling into the lake, department officials said.
—Joe Marusak
june 2, Charlotte Observer, 2 June 2026
Mastering the Cycles of Leadership The structural answer to both failure modes is explicit decision rights.
—Adrienne Down Coulson, Fortune, 2 June 2026
Imagine a loved one with advanced dementia who is in the intensive care unit with respiratory failure and is on a ventilator.
—Jennifer McCurdy, The Conversation, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for failure
Philip Wang, Time, 2 June 2026
Its crews responded quickly to the failure, preventing more sewage from spilling into the lake, department officials said.
—Joe Marusak
june 2, Charlotte Observer, 2 June 2026
Mastering the Cycles of Leadership The structural answer to both failure modes is explicit decision rights.
—Adrienne Down Coulson, Fortune, 2 June 2026
Imagine a loved one with advanced dementia who is in the intensive care unit with respiratory failure and is on a ventilator.
—Jennifer McCurdy, The Conversation, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for failure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for failure
Noun
-
The case is unusual compared to the slew of lawsuits over the past decade against utility companies for negligence that caused destructive and deadly wildfires, according to legal and environmental experts CNN spoke with.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
-
The Hoffman family has filed a lawsuit against Boelter, which accuses him of assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and negligence per se, according to the civil complaint.—
Nick Lentz,
CBS News,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
The Highlanders, who suffered a 7-5 defeat at the hands of Fontana Kaiser on Wednesday in the CIF Southern California Division 3 Regional semifinals, graduate just four seniors.—
John Maffei,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 June 2026
-
Nungurey saw a team defense that connected at crucial moments and managed to stave off defeat for one more inning and force extra innings against junior Redwood pitching ace Jackie Ramirez in the first round of the CIF SoCal Regional Division II playoffs Wednesday.—
Ethan Hanson,
Daily News,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
The offense has been a disaster, the pitching staff has sustained some key injuries and the club has spent the first two months struggling to keep its head above water.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
-
The Coalition to Prevent Chemical Disasters maps and tracks every chemical disaster reported by the media on its website.—
Jason Henry,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
Tony & Tara Eiguren The great potato capital has no shortage of great Basque food either, thanks to a hearty diaspora and community members like Tony and Tara Eiguren.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
-
Beyond the direct threat posed by drones, Russians are facing growing fuel shortages as Ukraine’s strikes on oil refineries limit supply.—
Zahra Ullah,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
The person sitting across the table could be the millionaire next door, or on the brink of bankruptcy.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
6 June 2026
-
The Santa Rosa City Schools Board previously voted to permanently close the schools as part of an effort to avoid bankruptcy and state receivership.—
Da Lin,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
He has previously been arrested for charges including terroristic threats, assault, child neglect and fraud.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
-
Latana Williams, 27, was arrested and charged with child neglect, a first-degree felony.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Throwing Israel ‘under the bus’ Netanyahu has pushed to strike Iran’s oil facilities to accelerate the regime’s collapse, the official said.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
29 May 2026
-
Then came the collapse of the Assad regime, in Syria, severing the land route long used by Hezbollah to transport rockets, antitank missiles, and precision-guidance systems from its Iranian patron.—
Euan Ward,
New Yorker,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Liaquat Ahamed has spent his career studying the moments when the world’s financial system breaks down — the bad bets, the collective delusions, and the geopolitical accidents that tip economies into catastrophe.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
2 June 2026
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Richards had begun privately doubting the timeline—traveling to Paris and London for modeling work, looking around, and noticing an absence of catastrophe.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Failure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failure. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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