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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disaster
something that has failed
the students' first attempt to build a homemade rocket was a disappointing failure
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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
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5
as in bankruptcy
the inability to pay one's debts
years of prolonged economic depression, when business failures were common
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of failure
But the failure of those military campaigns illustrates the political risk of sending troops into combat situations — and underscores the importance of achieving a credible and durable end to the fighting in Ukraine before peacekeepers could be deployed.
—
Yan Zhuang, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2025
But that fact makes the failure to contain Ebola all the more glaring.
To be fair, all outbreak and pandemic responses are chaotic, especially when an entirely novel virus like Covid starts spreading.
—Jess Craig, Vox, 17 Feb. 2025
Read More: Why 1984's Red Dawn Still Matters The failures of the Vietnam War once again challenged many of the assumptions these men had learned from World War II.
—Steven Gillon / Made By History, TIME, 17 Feb. 2025
Jordan, 34, came to grips with the failure of meeting those high expectations.
—Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for failure
Yan Zhuang, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2025
But that fact makes the failure to contain Ebola all the more glaring.
To be fair, all outbreak and pandemic responses are chaotic, especially when an entirely novel virus like Covid starts spreading.
—Jess Craig, Vox, 17 Feb. 2025
Read More: Why 1984's Red Dawn Still Matters The failures of the Vietnam War once again challenged many of the assumptions these men had learned from World War II.
—Steven Gillon / Made By History, TIME, 17 Feb. 2025
Jordan, 34, came to grips with the failure of meeting those high expectations.
—Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for failure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for failure
Noun
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In addition to the law firm’s other work, Rader handles cases related to reproductive negligence (embryo destruction) and unregulated behavior in the in vitro fertilization (IVF) sector.—
Andrew Rader,
Sun Sentinel,
23 Feb. 2025
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Both leveled the following allegations: intentional infliction of emotional distress; negligence; negligent supervision; negligent retention/hiring; negligent failure to warn, train or educate; and breach of fiduciary duty.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA TODAY,
22 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Clement described Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to St Mirren as the worst performance of his tenure and fan sentiment has soured in recent weeks.—
Jordan Campbell,
The Athletic,
23 Feb. 2025
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New York’s season-worst 142-105 defeat at the hands of the East-leading Cleveland Cavaliers was more than just a bad night.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
22 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The scope of the disaster grew clear as the orchestra began to reconnect.—
Thomas Curwen,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2025
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For the people affected by these disasters, the idea that real estate is a perfectly safe way to store wealth is clearly untrue.—
Dave Birnbaum,
Forbes,
22 Feb. 2025
Noun
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This makes access easier to those who had relied on compounding pharmacies like Hims & Hers while there was a shortage of the drug.—
Paulina Likos,
CNBC,
25 Feb. 2025
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There's a regional shortage of crossing guards, leading to school safety concerns, but D.C. officials say there's another obstacle: mandatory drug tests, which 43% of applicants fail.—
Anna Spiegel,
Axios,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Forever 21 is closing stores as the fast-fashion retailer's U.S. operator is considering bankruptcy, five years after the company escaped Chapter 11, according to multiple reports.—
Jonathan Limehouse,
USA TODAY,
21 Feb. 2025
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The safeguards are important, the lawmakers said, because identity theft or bankruptcy can mean a loss of a security clearance or the end of a service member’s career.—
Melissa Chan,
NBC News,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Natalia was evicted from the apartment a year later and the couple was hit with accusations of abandonment and several charges related to the neglect of a dependent.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA TODAY,
21 Feb. 2025
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The county billed him $24K for the neglect of the previous owner.—
Wesley Alden,
Orlando Sentinel,
19 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Zubac failed to score or even attempt a single field goal in the fourth quarter of Thursday’s collapse.—
Law Murray,
The Athletic,
21 Feb. 2025
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Those who continue to treat it as a static legal formality will face consumer outrage, lawsuits, and reputational collapse.—
Jason Snyder,
Forbes,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
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There’s also no interior light, and for the price, that lack of a light, combined with the missing preheat feature, kept this one out of our top picks.—
Emily Farris,
Bon Appétit,
18 Feb. 2025
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The lack of a swift deal, the furore and the anxiety of the past week are ultimately in Putin’s interests.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN,
18 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Failure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failure. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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