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
The cause of the engine failure that preceded the crash is under investigation.
—
Carolyn Gusoff, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
This provides an opportunity to investigate the weaknesses of the case for the conflict, along with the possibility of success and the risks of failure.
—David French, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026
The cannabis industry’s greatest threat is no longer prohibitionist ideology but its own failure to mitigate the legitimate harms associated with its products and operations.
—Peter Su, Rolling Stone, 2 Mar. 2026
This could end up being the first NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) mission to land on the moon after the failure of Astrobotic’s Peregrine lander.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for failure
Carolyn Gusoff, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
This provides an opportunity to investigate the weaknesses of the case for the conflict, along with the possibility of success and the risks of failure.
—David French, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026
The cannabis industry’s greatest threat is no longer prohibitionist ideology but its own failure to mitigate the legitimate harms associated with its products and operations.
—Peter Su, Rolling Stone, 2 Mar. 2026
This could end up being the first NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) mission to land on the moon after the failure of Astrobotic’s Peregrine lander.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for failure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for failure
Noun
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The lawsuit alleges that Karzoun’s wrongful death was caused by the negligence of UConn and its police department.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Donna Diamond is suing all three defendants on the basis of wrongful death, negligence, loss of consortium and related damages.—
Lillian Metzmeier,
USA Today,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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For Jorgen Strand Larsen, that is somewhat true, having played well in most of his six games, including scoring twice on his home debut in the 3-2 defeat by Burnley last month.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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The Wizards only lost one game to a Colorado Class 5A opponent all year, a 47-45 defeat to Air Academy back in December.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
And the bipartisan Washington consensus eschews reforms in favor of praying that the economy magically grows its way out of this fiscal disaster.—
Tiana Lowe Doescher,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Hundreds of agency staff, including those involved with disaster recovery efforts, have been grounded.—
Brianna Sacks,
Washington Post,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Long lines at gas stations across the capital suggested fears of possible fuel shortages or plans by many to leave the city.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 Mar. 2026
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Spellings noted that the United States has a teacher shortage, especially in fields like special education, driven in part by an aging teacher population and high attrition.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
She was listed as one of AllHere’s creditors, bankruptcy court records show.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
28 Feb. 2026
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Late last year, that same board approved a multi-year natural gas supply contract with New Fortress Energy, a company that has warned of bankruptcy, yet received a $4 billion contract from the Puerto Rican government.—
Israel Melendez Ayala,
Time,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Residents of Syracuse, New York — America’s snowiest city — once barraged a service hotline with street neglect complaints during blizzards, even if plows had passed two hours earlier but the work was hidden by fresh snow.—
Jeff McMurray,
Fortune,
3 Mar. 2026
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Separately, she was sentenced to two years in state prison for child neglect.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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At the congress, Kim derided liberal South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's calls for engagement as a deception, accusing successive governments in Seoul of seeking Pyongyang's collapse.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Feb. 2026
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The blockade has led to an acute oil shortage in the country that was already facing economic collapse amid an energy crisis that was already plunging the country into daily prolonged blackouts.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In response to this lack of demand, Canadian airlines cut flights, driving the number of seats on planes from Canada to Las Vegas to its lowest point in two decades.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
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Other residents expressed frustration as Wu administration officials pooh-poohed not only Pepén’s snow-removal proposal, due to a lack of capacity, but ideas put forward by Councilors Brian Worrell and Ed Flynn, who chaired the hearing.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Failure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failure. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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