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
Tech brands and retailers will likely continue to plan for the possibility of a failure in trade talks.
—
James Peckham, PC Magazine, 12 May 2025
The law is clear, the process is simple, and the consequences of failure are catastrophic.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 12 May 2025
Carr understands this on some level, but has too much faith in his coaching staff and teammates to verbalize the possibility of failure.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 12 May 2025
The judge who ordered Öztürk’s release emphasized the administration’s failure to submit any evidence to support that accusation throughout her lengthy detention.
—Hanna Park, CNN Money, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for failure
James Peckham, PC Magazine, 12 May 2025
The law is clear, the process is simple, and the consequences of failure are catastrophic.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 12 May 2025
Carr understands this on some level, but has too much faith in his coaching staff and teammates to verbalize the possibility of failure.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 12 May 2025
The judge who ordered Öztürk’s release emphasized the administration’s failure to submit any evidence to support that accusation throughout her lengthy detention.
—Hanna Park, CNN Money, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for failure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for failure
Noun
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Reasonable limits on liability • Exclusions for gross negligence or willful misconduct Tip: Always read these clauses carefully and ask your attorney to explain them in plain English.—
Stephen Nalley,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
-
In a more extreme case, an 81-year-old hunter was deemed liable for negligence after accidentally shooting someone while out pheasant hunting in South Windsor in 2023.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
6 May 2025
Noun
-
Los Blancos sped up talks after their 4-3 defeat to Barcelona on May 11, which effectively ended hopes of retaining their La Liga title this season.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
17 May 2025
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The government has suffered legal defeats on a range of issues including the firing of probationary federal workers, freezing of billions in foreign aid and a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 May 2025
Noun
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States like Florida could be forced to assume billions in costs for health care and disaster preparedness.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
17 May 2025
-
Melissa Bumstead, an environmental advocate and San Fernando Valley resident, urged the Board of Environmental Safety to consider factoring disaster debris into the hazardous waste plan.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
16 May 2025
Noun
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The Federal Aviation Administration faces a shortage of roughly 3,500 air traffic controllers, with staffing gaps affecting nearly every control tower.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
8 May 2025
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But the policy meant to protect farmers, combined with other factors including extreme weather, has led to a rice shortage since last year.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
8 May 2025
Noun
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The bankruptcy plan was approved within 24 hours, cutting its debt load by about $450 million, the Observer previously reported.—
Catherine Muccigrosso,
Charlotte Observer,
15 May 2025
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There are cigars to be smoked, a headline-making bankruptcy and more tours.—
Dwight Garner,
New York Times,
13 May 2025
Noun
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By law, the president can only fire members for cause, such as neglect of duty or malfeasance.—
Andrea Hsu,
NPR,
16 May 2025
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Poverty can place children at risk of abuse and neglect.—
Kathryn Maguire-Jack,
The Conversation,
15 May 2025
Noun
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They're forced to work together again during the Newton collapse, and Graham's sacrifice triggers something in both of them.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
16 May 2025
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The collapse of the Assad regime in December occurred when Ahmed al-Sharaa’s group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) led a rebel coalition.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
16 May 2025
Noun
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But the lack of GLP-1 receptors in the liver suggests that the drug doesn’t work directly on the organ but instead has an indirect effect by lowering weight and blood sugar levels, said Abdelmalek.—
Cathy Nelson,
Health,
13 May 2025
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However, after the North Carolina Supreme Court overturned their case in 2021 due to a lack of a fair trial, Molly and Thomas pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter and received lesser sentences.—
Emily Blackwood,
People.com,
13 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Failure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failure. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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