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
Relevance
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
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 failure
His failure to do anything resembling work, even to manage taking his boys to school in the morning while his wife Terri (Alana Haim) goes to her dreary office, is well known; the politics of women’s liberation has yet to revolutionize the personal in their house.
—
Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 23 May 2025
Extreme hailstorms can lead to loss of visibility, unreliable air data or engine failure, and the best way to avoid them is to rely on weather radars.
—Jenny Gross, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Tapper has been on multiple shows admitting to failures in how the reporting on Biden’s health was done.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2025
Scientists at a California biotech company first identified the disease, which, if left untreated, can lead to liver failure and death.
—Scott Suckow, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for failure
Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 23 May 2025
Extreme hailstorms can lead to loss of visibility, unreliable air data or engine failure, and the best way to avoid them is to rely on weather radars.
—Jenny Gross, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Tapper has been on multiple shows admitting to failures in how the reporting on Biden’s health was done.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2025
Scientists at a California biotech company first identified the disease, which, if left untreated, can lead to liver failure and death.
—Scott Suckow, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for failure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for failure
Noun
-
Now, Espinosa and his wife are suing the sheriff's office, alleging deliberate indifference and medical negligence.—
Christina Coulter,
People.com,
16 May 2025
-
The lawsuit accuses other officers of assault, battery, false imprisonment and rape, and says the department is to blame because of negligence.—
Julia Marnin,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2025
Noun
-
Perhaps the most revealing setback came in the 3-2 Copa del Rey final defeat by Barca.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
-
Another way in which partisanship has brought us to this incipient defeat of the constitutional order is that the Congress has been rendered all but incompetent by faction.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
30 May 2025
Noun
-
Though the Sixers remained a disaster without Embiid on the floor over those past two seasons, Maxey hit that 26-points-per-game mark and arrived as a star in this league.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
-
The first episode features the recreation by actors of actual communication or lack of communication between the pilot and his junior officer that led to these disasters.—
Stephen Rodrick,
Rolling Stone,
29 May 2025
Noun
-
In their open letter this spring, former weather service directors warned that severe staffing shortages at local weather service offices could lead to less accurate and detailed forecasts this summer.—
Rebecca Hersher,
NPR,
19 May 2025
-
The Philadelphia air traffic control facility that handles flights at Newark is also experiencing a staffing shortage.—
Megan Cerullo,
CBS News,
19 May 2025
Noun
-
Rising Consumer Debt From a consumer standpoint, individual bankruptcy filings in March reached a level not previously seen since the Covid-19 pandemic.—
Jonathan Carson,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
-
Filings show that as many as 58 homebuyers have been affected by the company's sudden bankruptcy filing, as reported by Realtor.com.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 May 2025
Noun
-
Meanwhile, urban poverty deepened, and some Black tenants accused Jewish landlords of neglect or profiteering — charges that sparked anger and occasionally violence in places like Chicago’s Lawndale and Newark’s Central Ward.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
24 May 2025
-
The resulting breakdown is one of the series' most painful moments, with Pacey begging for answers to a lifetime of neglect.—
Jen Juneau,
People.com,
24 May 2025
Noun
-
There were also signs of lung collapse and fluid buildup (edema).—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
28 May 2025
-
Meanwhile, rural hospitals — already on the brink of collapse — will close their doors, leaving entire communities without access to emergency care.—
Brian Castrucci,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
Noun
-
After two days exploring Barcelona, Spain, Napton was surprised at the lack of political discourse.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
26 May 2025
-
Morehouse graduates applaud the honor Part of the tragedy of Hubert’s lynching was a lack of awareness surrounding his story among Morehouse graduates until only recently, several alumni said.—
Dalia Faheid,
CNN Money,
25 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Failure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failure. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share