failure

noun

ˈfāl-yər How to pronounce failure (audio)
Definition of failurenext
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 See All Example Sentences for failure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for failure
  1. negligence
  2. defeat
  3. disaster
  4. shortage
  5. bankruptcy
  6. neglect
  7. collapse
  8. catastrophe
Noun
  • The jury determined that Meta and YouTube were negligent in the design or operation of their respective platforms, and that the negligence was a substantial factor in causing harm to the plaintiff.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Nuisance, negligence and harm to residents The largest set of claims in the lawsuit has to do with arguing that the data center damages residents’ health, futures and quality of life in the areas closest to the 400-acre hyperscale AI factory.
    — Ilana Arougheti Updated August 14, Kansas City Star, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of negligence
Noun
  • Ultimately, Jacksonville State’s physicality should overwhelm FIU on both sides of the ball, resulting in an ugly defeat for the Panthers.
    — Alejandro Hernandez, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Meghan also wouldn’t be seen in public, including at Harry’s Invictus Games events, after her husband suffered a stunning and potentially costly court defeat in his invasion-of-privacy lawsuit against the Daily Mail.
    — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of defeat
Noun
  • The baby’s father, Andres Garcia, survived the boat disaster, a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation told CNN.
    — Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Rescuers continued recovering bodies from the artisanal mining site in Zamboye, near the border with Cameroon, but local workers said the response lacked the equipment and expertise needed for a disaster of such scale.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of disaster
Noun
  • The audit found the programme was already six to 12 months behind schedule because of construction delays and shortages of key components.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Democratic senators demanded answers about conditions on the ship after reports of broken plumbing, food shortages, and mental health crisis.
    — Michelle Richardson, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of shortage
Noun
  • The Dania Beach headquarters campus that once served as the nerve center of now-defunct Spirit Airlines has been sold to a Boston hedge fund that served as the stalking horse bidder in a bankruptcy court auction.
    — David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
  • WalletHub considered a plethora of economic metrics, including bankruptcy rates, income growth, job opportunities and unemployment and poverty rates.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of bankruptcy
Noun
  • Hernandez faces two federal counts of misconduct and neglect of a ship officer resulting in death.
    — Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
  • More information on reporting educator misconduct, abuse, or neglect is available online.
    — Amelia Mugavero, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of neglect
Noun
  • Charted out, the twin collapses of the income and inheritance taxes look like a roller coaster careening downhill, picking up speed toward and through the twenty-first century.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Cameron Brink injured in Sparks’ loss Sabrina Ionescu scored 20 points and the New York Liberty avoided one of the biggest collapses in WNBA history, holding off the Sparks 85-81 on Thursday night.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of collapse
Noun
  • Massive crude stockpiles before the war helped prevent catastrophe when supply dried up.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • As the summer of 2001 wears on through the lens of Kopple’s camera, our knowledge of the coming catastrophe casts a shadow over the proceedings.
    — Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of catastrophe

Browse Nearby Words

fails (at)
failure
failures
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Failure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failure. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on failure

Nglish: Translation of failure for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of rigmarole

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All