Synonyms of fell short

fell short

phrase

past tense of fall short

1

as in failed

to be unsuccessful

The movie fell short of its viewers' expectations.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• failed
• collapsed
• flopped
• folded
• missed
• fell flat
• struggled
• came to grief
• flamed out
• struck out
• laid an egg
• came up empty
• washed out
• came a cropper
• bombed
• died on the vine
• flunked
• tanked
• fell on one's face
• foundered
• cratered
• declined
• crashed
• slipped
• went under
• slumped
• skidded
• crumbled
• floundered
• waned
• miscarried
• sank
• misfired
• imploded
• self-destructed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• went over
• worked out
• went
• succeeded
• delivered
• came off
• clicked
• panned out
• cooked
• flourished
• prospered
• thrived
• prevailed
• won
• triumphed

2

as in fell flat

to go wrong

The biography falls short by neglecting to explore the subject's faults as well as his virtues.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fell flat
• came to grief
• failed
• miscarried
• came a cropper
• stalled
• misfired
• missed
• died
• flopped
• struggled
• folded
• washed out
• crashed
• flamed out
• broke down
• conked (out)
• fizzled
• foundered
• flunked
• skidded
• slumped
• slipped
• waned
• floundered
• busted
• bombed
• declined
• tanked

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• prevailed
• succeeded
• flourished
• prospered
• thrived

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of fell short

Writing in the aftermath of the French Revolution, Schiller argued that the revolution fell short of true liberation because its emphasis on reason led to the dismissal of feeling. — The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 5 Aug. 2026

Takaichi said Japan has maintained its postwar three non-nuclear principles, but fell short of expressing commitment for sticking with that policy into the future. — ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026

At the June meeting, City Manager Jennifer Maguire acknowledged the city fell short in engaging the community affected by the increases. — Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026

But with Meredith’s case, the UIL fell short of expectations, and that raises a few issues with the athletic eligibility process as a whole. — Charles Baggarly august 4, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Aug. 2026

The company's earnings topped Wall Street's estimates, but its revenue fell short of analysts' expectations. — Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 4 Aug. 2026

But in documents released Monday in advance of a hearing this week where FDA advisers will weigh in on the drug, the agency said the study fell short. — Ed Silverman, STAT, 28 July 2026

Winsome Earle-Sears tried it last year in Virginia and fell short. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 21 July 2026

That could be considered a bright spot in a jobs report that fell short of forecasters’ hiring expectations. — Rachel Barber, USA Today, 9 July 2026