Synonyms of failures

failures

noun

plural of failure

1

as in defeats

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

• defeats
• collapses
• setbacks
• crashes
• disappointments
• deficiencies
• futilities
• croppers
• inadequacies
• nonachievements
• fizzles
• nonsuccesses
• insufficiencies
• letdowns
• inefficacies
• ineffectualities

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• successes
• achievements
• accomplishments
• victories
• wins

2

as in disasters

something that has failed

the students' first attempt to build a homemade rocket was a disappointing failure

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disasters
• disappointments
• catastrophes
• bombs
• losers
• busts
• fiascoes
• shipwrecks
• flops
• debacles
• misses
• washouts
• frosts
• duds
• lemons
• messes
• clinkers
• bummers
• turkeys
• clunkers
• fizzles
• dogs
• shambles
• hashes
• botches
• near misses
• has-beens
• also-rans
• nonevents
• muddles
• nonstarters

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• successes
• hits
• winners
• blockbusters
• phenomena
• smashes
• dandies
• corkers
• crackerjacks
• jim-dandies

3

as in shortages

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

• shortages
• lacks
• deficiencies
• inadequacies
• deficits
• insufficiencies
• absences
• droughts
• lacunae
• scarcities
• famines
• poverties
• omissions
• undersupplies
• wants
• dearths
• paucities
• crunches
• pinches
• necessities
• needs
• privations

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• adequacies
• sufficiencies
• amplitudes
• abundances
• excesses
• wealths
• plenties
• plenitudes
• surpluses
• opulences
• oversupplies
• surfeits
• overabundances

4

as in bankruptcies

the inability to pay one's debts

years of prolonged economic depression, when business failures were common

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bankruptcies
• ruins
• insolvencies
• Chapter 11s

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• solvencies

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of failures

The question confronting Israel and its international partners is not simply whether money should flow into Gaza, but also who controls it—and whether the next arrangement will avoid the failures of the last. — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026

The author argued that the unrest reflected deeper failures by France’s political establishment. — Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026

Special-teams breakdowns — including a 70-yard kickoff return and two field-goal failures — played a big role in the Rams’ 37-34 overtime loss to Buffalo. — Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Nicole Amor, who was killed on March 1, Joey Amor asked about mistakes and fundamental failures that led up to the deaths of those soldiers and how leaders would be held accountable. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026

While the labs may argue that AI can do this better than humans could, there’s a possibility that letting AI largely grade its own homework is part of how these failures slip through. — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026

The installation at the military’s oldest active test base would help shield critical defense operations from wider grid failures. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026

The familiar scent of grilling merguez wafted through the air as Violette began to enumerate the system’s failures. — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2026

Elena asks both parents for accountability over the failures of her childhood. — Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026