1
as in negligence
the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action
your failure to check the batteries in the smoke detector could have tragic results
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in defeat
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disaster
something that has failed
the students' first attempt to build a homemade rocket was a disappointing failure
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in shortage
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
5
as in bankruptcy
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of failure
Most interpreted that as a failure to engineer a better pass rush through blitzing, something the 49ers rarely did.
—
Matt Barrows, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
Quitting cold turkey can worsen withdrawal symptoms that are associated with a higher failure rate.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 23 Jan. 2025
This waste crisis also underscores a broader issue: our failure to treat waste as a resource.
—Ryan Castalia, New York Daily News, 23 Jan. 2025
Not typically covered is the cost of scheduled maintenance, wear-and-tear items like brake pads and windshield wiper blades, and failure caused by abuse or improper maintenance.
—Jim Gorzelany, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for failure 
Matt Barrows, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
Quitting cold turkey can worsen withdrawal symptoms that are associated with a higher failure rate.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 23 Jan. 2025
This waste crisis also underscores a broader issue: our failure to treat waste as a resource.
—Ryan Castalia, New York Daily News, 23 Jan. 2025
Not typically covered is the cost of scheduled maintenance, wear-and-tear items like brake pads and windshield wiper blades, and failure caused by abuse or improper maintenance.
—Jim Gorzelany, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for failure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for failure
Noun
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Mothers fear that a lack of diapers could be taken as a sign of negligence and lead to children being removed from their custody.—
Laura Clawson,
JSTOR Daily,
18 Jan. 2025
-
Staff and security at the Kaseya Center—a co-defendant accused of gross negligence—allegedly prevented the acquaintance from following the woman and McGregor into the bathroom (the Kaseya Center did not immediately respond to a request for comment).—
Ty Roush,
Forbes,
15 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Despite Fritz’s defeat, there remains a healthy contingent of US participants in the tournament, with Monfils facing American Ben Shelton in the fourth round on Monday.—
Matias Grez,
CNN,
18 Jan. 2025
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Their first defeat since December 7 must be quickly consigned to history and Howe’s team must learn how to better recover from setbacks at home.—
Chris Waugh,
The Athletic,
18 Jan. 2025
Noun
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And the nation marked 39 years since the Challenger disaster.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA TODAY,
29 Jan. 2025
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The trailer has tipped most of the big gags, from the disaster at the dock to Jim wrestling an alligator, but Stoller’s script is strong enough that the movie’s pleasures are far from spoiled.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
29 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Rather than going after industry technology or enforcing restrictive mandates, Maryland policymakers should look to these successful models and focus on the underlying issues — the housing shortage, inflationary pressures and overregulation.—
David Byrd,
Baltimore Sun,
20 Jan. 2025
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Rankings consider forecasted price increases, how quickly homes sell, inventory shortages, rising rents and local job and population growth, using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau and the company’s own listing data.—
Mike Winters,
CNBC,
20 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Sometimes, this debt can lead to draining retirement savings and even personal bankruptcy.—
Next Avenue,
Forbes,
27 Jan. 2025
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His prior experience includes financial restructuring at Northwest Airlines during its bankruptcy proceedings.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA TODAY,
25 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Other forms of childhood adversity — emotional abuse, neglect, household mental illness, substance abuse, and exposure to parental domestic violence — were not significantly associated with stroke in this study.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
22 Jan. 2025
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Home Start, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect, was recently awarded a $100,000 gift from Guild Giving Foundation, a nonprofit under Guild Mortgage Company.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The building’s collapse was also one of the deadliest structural engineering failures in United States history.—
Laura Kiniry,
Smithsonian Magazine,
28 Jan. 2025
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Environmental groups warned the order could hasten ecological collapse in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.—
Ari Plachta,
Sacramento Bee,
27 Jan. 2025
Noun
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But he will occasionally get beat by good shooters and his lack of size has been exposed at times by pros.—
Scott Wheeler,
The Athletic,
25 Jan. 2025
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After an underwhelming opening, the Disney release has shown good staying power, taking advantage of January’s lack of competition.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
25 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near failure
Cite this Entry
“Failure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failure. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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