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
Employers can create weekly forums where employees can share both AI successes and failures without judgment, then reallocate budgets away from underperforming AI experiments to pilots that are showing success.
—
Feon Ang, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2025
One form Asks whether the tree appears To exhibit a history of failures.
—Makshya Tolbert, Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
The notion of gremlins was first conceived during the 1920s when mechanical failures in Royal Air Force aircraft were jokingly blamed on the small monsters.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025
This spring, following a series of equipment failures at Newark Liberty International Airport's control facility, some air traffic control operators took time off to recover from the stress, leading to a spike in delays and cancellations at that airport.
—Cheryl Vari, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Nov. 2025
Fundraising failures, coupled with a chaotic rollout and other strategic and outdated marketing missteps, seemed to tank the campaign early on.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 6 Nov. 2025
From early failures to career pivots and personal growth, Kevin will guide guests to find meaning in their missteps and humor in hindsight.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025
Even before any ruling, the lawsuit is likely to intensify political scrutiny of the government’s handling of student debt and pressure officials to address servicing and reporting failures.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
For decades, conservation organizations have been working to restore oyster populations in the bay, accruing data along the way to learn from successes and failures.
—JSTOR Daily, 31 Oct. 2025
Feon Ang, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2025
One form Asks whether the tree appears To exhibit a history of failures.
—Makshya Tolbert, Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
The notion of gremlins was first conceived during the 1920s when mechanical failures in Royal Air Force aircraft were jokingly blamed on the small monsters.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025
This spring, following a series of equipment failures at Newark Liberty International Airport's control facility, some air traffic control operators took time off to recover from the stress, leading to a spike in delays and cancellations at that airport.
—Cheryl Vari, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Nov. 2025
Fundraising failures, coupled with a chaotic rollout and other strategic and outdated marketing missteps, seemed to tank the campaign early on.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 6 Nov. 2025
From early failures to career pivots and personal growth, Kevin will guide guests to find meaning in their missteps and humor in hindsight.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025
Even before any ruling, the lawsuit is likely to intensify political scrutiny of the government’s handling of student debt and pressure officials to address servicing and reporting failures.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
For decades, conservation organizations have been working to restore oyster populations in the bay, accruing data along the way to learn from successes and failures.
—JSTOR Daily, 31 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for failures
Noun
-
Liverpool have taken positive steps forward in their past two games, winning both following a run of six defeats in seven.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The Nighthawks were 3-17 across their first two seasons in Class 3A, with the majority of their defeats coming via running clock.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Excluding disasters, sudden surges of this magnitude in requests for food or any other need are rare at 211s, and can signal both public worry and need, as happened in the first weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Matthew W. Kreuter,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
-
But Kalmaegi also collapsed flood-control infrastructure in the province that was ostensibly meant to protect citizens in such disasters.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
China’s apparent surge in missile production comes as the US expends sophisticated defense systems in Ukraine and Israel, causing some ammunition shortages and sparking debate in Washington about how and where to deploy its high-end weapons.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
When staffing shortages occur, the FAA will reduce the flow of air traffic to maintain safety.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The move comes 16 years after the bankruptcies of General Motors and Chrysler that intensified Detroit’s downfall.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The bankruptcies of First Brands and Tricolor that have Wall Street on edge allegedly stemmed from falsified financial documents.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Migration to the southern border, perhaps the most powerful current in American politics today, is already being driven partly by ecological collapses in Central American farm economies.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
10 Nov. 2025
-
The collapses are happening on a thin, sparsely populated stretch of coast.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The Chiefs have suffered some injuries at corner in past seasons, so there’s still time to get some use with Fulton, but for now this stands one of the season’s top disappointments.—
Sam McDowell
November 7,
Kansas City Star,
7 Nov. 2025
-
There’s often a focus on resilience, or the the ability to bounce back from disappointments and challenges, especially during times of transition or change.—
Ana Homayoun,
CNBC,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
So Vegas has to hope that their forward depth is strong enough to balance out where their star power lacks, relative to other contenders.—
The Athletic NHL,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
This absence — of God, of love, of plain community spirit — is a metaphor for the whole parish, where everyone is defined by their own lacks and deficiencies, the weaknesses that cause Wicks to despise them and vow to bring down them all.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The novel borrows from Englund’s experience, the setbacks and the thrills, and also draws from conversations with Dana Fares, another local professional actress who spent time in Hollywood.—
Karen Billing,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Chet Holmgren, the big man who showed his immense value in their title run last season after enduring years of health setbacks, is 23.—
Sam Amick,
New York Times,
11 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Failures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failures. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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