fail

1
as in to die
to stop functioning my car failed just as I was about to head to work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
as in to disappoint
to fall short in satisfying the expectation or hope of although the minor-league franchise continues to fail local fans, hope springs eternal

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
5

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fail But the state abandoned the execution after prison staff failed to establish an IV line, exposing the difficulties with administering the death penalty. Erik Ortiz, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024 Thus far, Russia has failed to move its warheads out of danger. William M. Moon, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2024 After failing to acquire Rogers Corporation due to regulatory hurdles, DuPont took the sale proceeds and repurchased billions of dollars worth of stock at much lower levels. Jeff Marks, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2024 This current administration has failed miserably in all aspects of humanity. Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 2 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fail 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fail
Verb
  • The organization, created in 2002 after four students at a Jefferson County high school died by suicide in a nine-month period, is branching out beyond the Front Range.
    Elizabeth Hernandez, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024
  • Monk likely died long before deputies checked for his pulse, the lawsuit claimed.
    Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • It was reported that a man was trapped under a tractor after a bridge collapsed on the property, which was in unincorporated Woodstock.
    Elizabeth Pritchett, Fox News, 4 Nov. 2024
  • The Democrats’ best hope may be that Trump’s minuscule battleground state leads will collapse on contact with the fearsome Harris turnout machine.
    W. James Antle III, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Expect anything more than that, and you’ll be disappointed.
    Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
  • The Ravens have mostly disappointed in their playoff performances in the Lamar Jackson era.
    Matt Modi, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Such a test would be a sign of China’s weakening influence over Pyongyang and could spur Seoul to try to acquire nuclear weapons of its own—a position that both South Korea and the United States officially oppose but is gaining traction in Western policy circles.
    Sungmin Cho, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2024
  • With its climate leadership perceived to be weakening, New Zealand may get a cooler reception at COP than in previous years, especially from Pacific Island nations, Cooper said.
    Mahalia Dobson, NBC News, 10 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Who could forget that just two years ago, President Biden chose to address the nation in Pennsylvania about the threat Trump and his supporters posed to the nation.
    The Editorial Board, Orange County Register, 14 Nov. 2024
  • Now, our son is making overtures on behalf of his wife to just forgive and forget.
    R. Eric Thomas, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Scott crashed into another vehicle while attempting to avoid the shots.
    Harry Harris, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
  • Call it the awkwardness of the pregame: Peacock’s Kornacki cam didn’t work for about ten minutes, and every hour or so, the Multiview feature would crash, reflecting the instability of the streamer’s new infrastructure.
    Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • The lone miss: A block by Chiefs safety Justin Reid off the left edge in Denver’s Week 8 win last year.
    Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024
  • The husband of a San Antonio woman who has been missing for a month has been charged with murder.
    Antonio Planas, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • That paycheck or applause fades into the background as soon as a bigger challenge arises.
    Akin Akinpelu, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Each spritz creates a waterproof barrier to ensure your glam doesn't melt or fade throughout the day.
    Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 4 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near fail

Cite this Entry

“Fail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fail. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on fail

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!