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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of failure
This is a classic Washington move — blame the private sector to cover for a government failure.
—
Stacy Washington, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 June 2025
Yesterday, when asked about Musk’s criticism--which could sink the entire bill, if enough Senate Republicans like Ron Johnson and their constituents turn against it--the president chalked it up to sour grapes over the bill’s failure to extend EV tax credits.
—Kelly Evans, CNBC, 6 June 2025
Liver failure: Your liver detoxifies substances and medication byproducts in your body.
—Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 5 June 2025
Lynch said Rodriguez was initially arrested on May 28 by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and the Bridgeport Police Department on five failure to appear warrants for cases from the Bridgeport and Branford Police Departments as well as the Connecticut State Police.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for failure
Stacy Washington, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 June 2025
Yesterday, when asked about Musk’s criticism--which could sink the entire bill, if enough Senate Republicans like Ron Johnson and their constituents turn against it--the president chalked it up to sour grapes over the bill’s failure to extend EV tax credits.
—Kelly Evans, CNBC, 6 June 2025
Liver failure: Your liver detoxifies substances and medication byproducts in your body.
—Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 5 June 2025
Lynch said Rodriguez was initially arrested on May 28 by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and the Bridgeport Police Department on five failure to appear warrants for cases from the Bridgeport and Branford Police Departments as well as the Connecticut State Police.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for failure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for failure
Noun
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Wyden is demanding the public release of an unclassified 2022 report that allegedly outlines years of cybersecurity negligence by major U.S. telecom companies.—
Emil Sayegh,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
-
Fowler could not determine whether this was the result of negligence or an operation with malicious intent.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2025
Noun
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Another way in which partisanship has brought us to this incipient defeat of the constitutional order is that the Congress has been rendered all but incompetent by faction.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
30 May 2025
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Perhaps the most revealing setback came in the 3-2 Copa del Rey final defeat by Barca.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Noun
-
After the fires, the governor formed the Climate Advisory Team (CAT) to develop climate disaster policy recommendations.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
29 May 2025
-
The first episode features the recreation by actors of actual communication or lack of communication between the pilot and his junior officer that led to these disasters.—
Stephen Rodrick,
Rolling Stone,
29 May 2025
Noun
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At the time Volkswagen was the first automaker to warn of a global chip shortage.—
Steve Banker,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
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Representatives of California and six other states have been negotiating long-term plans for reducing water use after 2026, when the rules expire, to deal with the ongoing shortages.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2025
Noun
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Lopez insisted that had to be done through the federal bankruptcy court and a trustee.—
Tovia Smith,
NPR,
6 June 2025
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The studios won $62.4 million in damages, eventually reduced to a $9.9 million settlement after VidAngel filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
6 June 2025
Noun
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Meanwhile, urban poverty deepened, and some Black tenants accused Jewish landlords of neglect or profiteering — charges that sparked anger and occasionally violence in places like Chicago’s Lawndale and Newark’s Central Ward.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
24 May 2025
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The resulting breakdown is one of the series' most painful moments, with Pacey begging for answers to a lifetime of neglect.—
Jen Juneau,
People.com,
24 May 2025
Noun
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Meanwhile, rural hospitals — already on the brink of collapse — will close their doors, leaving entire communities without access to emergency care.—
Brian Castrucci,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
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There were also signs of lung collapse and fluid buildup (edema).—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
28 May 2025
Noun
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Most troubling is a lack of true concern or remedies for a huge problem for America, our national debt, and the service on that $36 trillion debt, which amounts to almost a trillion dollars a year.—
Gary Franks,
Hartford Courant,
6 June 2025
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Thomson maintains Luzardo’s issues are a lack of execution.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Failure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failure. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.
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