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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disasters
something that has failed
the students' first attempt to build a homemade rocket was a disappointing failure
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in bankruptcies
the inability to pay one's debts
years of prolonged economic depression, when business failures were common
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of failures
More recently, fans trying to buy tickets for major tours, like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, BTS, Bruce Springsteen, and Harry Styles have faced sky-high prices, system failures, and a lack of real alternatives.
—
Letitia James, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2026
Interestingly, the device proved highly successful, showing no safety issues or failures across all eight patients.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026
Various other charges were related to reporting errors and failures to comply with campaign finance laws.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026
Technology now lets firms detect service failures and issue instant apologies at scale.
—Harvard Business Review, 20 Apr. 2026
Some spectators weren't worried by the failures.
—Simon Ellery, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026
SpaceX suffered upper stage failures on three test flights of the massive Starship rocket last year.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 19 Apr. 2026
The negative media coverage coincided with representatives of German and international Jewish organizations meeting with the West German federal president, Theodor Heuss, regarding the antisemitic vandalism and the failures of the West German education system to teach about Nazism.
—Daniela R. P. Weiner, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2026
The cartoon short's director, Walt Disney, had some significant commercial failures close behind him.
—Mark Lane, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Letitia James, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2026
Interestingly, the device proved highly successful, showing no safety issues or failures across all eight patients.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026
Various other charges were related to reporting errors and failures to comply with campaign finance laws.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026
Technology now lets firms detect service failures and issue instant apologies at scale.
—Harvard Business Review, 20 Apr. 2026
Some spectators weren't worried by the failures.
—Simon Ellery, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026
SpaceX suffered upper stage failures on three test flights of the massive Starship rocket last year.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 19 Apr. 2026
The negative media coverage coincided with representatives of German and international Jewish organizations meeting with the West German federal president, Theodor Heuss, regarding the antisemitic vandalism and the failures of the West German education system to teach about Nazism.
—Daniela R. P. Weiner, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2026
The cartoon short's director, Walt Disney, had some significant commercial failures close behind him.
—Mark Lane, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for failures
Noun
-
Brandon Nimmo hit a leadoff homer, another two-run shot and a double for the Rangers, who have lost six of nine with their back-to-back defeats at Dodger Stadium.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Check out the vibes following defeats.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Trump has expressed a desire to push more responsibility for disasters down to states.—
Gabriela Aoun Angueira,
Fortune,
11 Apr. 2026
-
His boldest innovation is to invoke not past glories but past disasters, summoning the ghosts of the United States’ catastrophic interventions in Iraq.—
Fintan O’Toole,
The New York Review of Books,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Because of the war, petroleum shortages have led to jacked up prices at the gas pump, and that has grabbed everyone’s attention.—
Dave Trecker,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 Apr. 2026
-
California’s housing prices, shortages and challenges are the result of decades of overreach at all levels of state and local government.—
Eliza Terziev,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Two bankruptcies and six law enforcement jobs in three years.—
Ryan J. Foley,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Trump had numerous bankruptcies.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Marin stuck to her plan of staying close until a moment that changed everything with shocking swiftness — her changing her mind and going for the green on the par-5 13th for a go-ahead birdie, and Talley adding to the sad history of collapses on the back nine at the home of the Masters.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Making that declaration is risky, given the history of collapses by professional teams in this city.—
Michael Cunningham,
AJC.com,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Have there been any disappointments?—
Caroline Mimbs Nyce,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Mirroring the changing trends of the time, the Puente albums were commercial disappointments.—
Ernesto Lechner,
Rolling Stone,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Cinch doesn't have many add-on options available, which means customization lacks.—
Caroline Ernst,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2026
-
As of Wednesday, firearms dealers are required under state law to use scanners that pull the prospective purchaser’s name, date of birth and other details from the card’s magnetic strip, which the new design lacks — except if they are authorized otherwise.—
Madison Smalstig,
Sacbee.com,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
While China is poised to be at the forefront of development, this year’s half-marathon event was not without its setbacks.—
Janis Mackey Frayer,
NBC news,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Barring any setbacks, Yates could make his season debut for the Angels later this month.—
Doug Padilla,
Oc Register,
18 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Failures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failures. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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