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
When a series of tragic failures at New Era Community Health Center left scores of the county’s weakest, poorest and most erratic residents in danger, Florida health inspectors took the unusual step of threatening to shut down the home.
—
Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2026
In 2023, the number dropped significantly, even as supervision failures within jails persisted, down to 63.
—Ryan Oehrli
april 1, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2026
Autonomous systems must handle edge cases and systemic failures without compromising passenger safety.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 1 Apr. 2026
In August of last year, however, Weiss closed after it was terminated from the federal Medicare program, following failures of its air conditioning system.
—Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
But the egregious failures do not end there.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
The same governance failures behind environmental and economic crises have produced a system built to absorb pressure and shift the burden onto its people.
—Kazem Kazerounian, Hartford Courant, 1 Apr. 2026
Yet alongside that resolve, structural failures and political priorities are compounding strains between the Israeli government and the locals.
—Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
Their relationship was tested by their mutual October failures.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2026
In 2023, the number dropped significantly, even as supervision failures within jails persisted, down to 63.
—Ryan Oehrli
april 1, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2026
Autonomous systems must handle edge cases and systemic failures without compromising passenger safety.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 1 Apr. 2026
In August of last year, however, Weiss closed after it was terminated from the federal Medicare program, following failures of its air conditioning system.
—Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
But the egregious failures do not end there.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
The same governance failures behind environmental and economic crises have produced a system built to absorb pressure and shift the burden onto its people.
—Kazem Kazerounian, Hartford Courant, 1 Apr. 2026
Yet alongside that resolve, structural failures and political priorities are compounding strains between the Israeli government and the locals.
—Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
Their relationship was tested by their mutual October failures.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for failures
Noun
-
Incumbent presidents generally don’t fare well in the mid-term elections, but Trump’s defeats could hand Democrats power to run Congress and impeach him again.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Potter replaced Jon Dahl Tomasson after the country finished bottom of a World Cup qualifying group involving Switzerland, Kosovo and Slovenia with a record of two draws and four defeats.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
At least 844 people died in what was one of the worst maritime disasters in American history.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
-
All of these downtowns are traffic disasters.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Analysts partially credit the stability to a mature domestic biofuels industry that allows the country to withstand geopolitical shocks with minimal risk of fuel shortages.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Aluminum prices hit a four‑year high as Iranian strikes on Middle Eastern producers stoke fears of supply shortages.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In 2025, the number of Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies reached 315, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.—
Kayla Steinberg,
NBC news,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Anxieties spiked on Wall Street last fall with the bankruptcies of First Brands and Tricolor, both of which had significant private financing.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
These are firms that have survived recessions, world wars, colonial collapses, and technological revolutions.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
-
But fears spiked at the end of last year after the high-profile collapses of First Brands, an auto parts manufacturer, and Tricolor, a subprime auto lender, called attention to significant fraud and weakness in the sector.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But there is something so wonderful about being fifty and having your own job and having been through so many disappointments that a situation like this is filtered through different experiences and people—the narrator’s discernment has an incredible clarity.—
Cressida Leyshon,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
-
The New York Mets and Atlanta Braves were two of baseball’s biggest disappointments last year, but there is good reason to believe both will be much improved heading into 2026.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Each provides amino acids that the other lacks, so eating them together gives you all the essential amino acids.—
Merve Ceylan,
Health,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Of those seven losses, setbacks against Dallas and Chicago (while both were still trying to win) and Milwaukee could at least be rationalized.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Despite these very public setbacks, the U-2 became a hidden success story and a major player during the Cold War.—
David Szondy
March 29,
New Atlas,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Failures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failures. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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