FAILING Synonyms: 205 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'failing' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of failing are fault , foible , frailty , and vice . While all these words mean "an imperfection or weakness of character," failing suggests a minor shortcoming in character. // being late is a failing of mine

Q: When might 'fault' be a better fit than 'failing'?

The synonyms fault and failing are sometimes interchangeable, but fault implies a failure, not necessarily culpable, to reach some standard of perfection in disposition, action, or habit. // a writer of many virtues and few faults

Q: When is 'foible' a more appropriate choice than 'failing'?

While in some cases nearly identical to failing , foible applies to a harmless or endearing weakness or idiosyncrasy. // an eccentric's charming foibles

Q: When could 'frailty' be used to replace 'failing'?

The words frailty and failing are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, frailty implies a general or chronic proneness to yield to temptation. // human frailties

Q: When would 'vice' be a good substitute for 'failing'?

Although the words vice and failing have much in common, vice can be a general term for any imperfection or weakness, but it often suggests violation of a moral code or the giving of offense to the moral sensibilities of others. // compulsive gambling was his vice

failing 1 of 3

noun

ˈfā-liŋ

Definition of failing next

as in fault

a defect in character we could talk about your failings, but it would take all night

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

failing

2 of 3

adjective

as in dying

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

undecadent

failing

3 of 3

verb

present participle of fail

as in crashing

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

starting (up)

as in collapsing

to be unsuccessful despite all the publicity, the movie failed miserably at the box office

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in disappointing

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

as in weakening

to lose bodily strength or vigor ever since she reached the age of 90, Grandma has been noticeably failing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in forgetting

to miss the opportunity or obligation failed to mention that he was looking for new job

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun failing differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of failing are fault, foible, frailty, and vice. While all these words mean "an imperfection or weakness of character," failing suggests a minor shortcoming in character.

being late is a failing of mine

When might fault be a better fit than failing?

The synonyms fault and failing are sometimes interchangeable, but fault implies a failure, not necessarily culpable, to reach some standard of perfection in disposition, action, or habit.

a writer of many virtues and few faults

When is foible a more appropriate choice than failing?

While in some cases nearly identical to failing, foible applies to a harmless or endearing weakness or idiosyncrasy.

an eccentric's charming foibles

When could frailty be used to replace failing?

The words frailty and failing are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, frailty implies a general or chronic proneness to yield to temptation.

human frailties

When would vice be a good substitute for failing?

Although the words vice and failing have much in common, vice can be a general term for any imperfection or weakness, but it often suggests violation of a moral code or the giving of offense to the moral sensibilities of others.

compulsive gambling was his vice

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 failing

Noun

Jolie’s parents separate following her father’s business failings, ripping her from an affluent life in Belgium, where her father is from, to a new one in Baltimore, where her mother’s sister runs their family’s century-old ranch. —

Ronda Racha Penrice, NBC News, 16 Oct. 2024 At the same time, Blizzard has become emblematic of many of the industry’s biggest failings, from the shareholder pressures to prioritize monetization over creativity to the deep sexism that still pervades so much of gaming today. —

Nilay Patel, The Verge, 3 Oct. 2024

Verb

Let’s be honest—nobody enjoys failing. —

Jenna Ryu, SELF, 4 Oct. 2024 And one failing to keep pace with the sudden surge in investor optimism toward China. —

William Pesek, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for failing

Recent Examples of Synonyms for failing

Noun

Not Stephen or Tyler, though; those guys were still at fault.

Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 31 Oct. 2024
The only real fault lay in the lineup’s lack of a plug-in hybrid to compete with the Audi Q5, BMW X4 and Volvo XC40.

Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024

Definition of fault

Cite this Entry

Style

“Failing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failing. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Last Updated: 20 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

tenacious

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Synonyms of failing

noun

adjective

verb

Synonym Chooser

Examples Sentences

Thesaurus Entries Near failing

Cite this Entry