1
as in defeats
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disasters
something that has failed
the students' first attempt to build a homemade rocket was a disappointing failure
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in shortages
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
4
as in bankruptcies
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
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Recent Examples of failures
Recent security failures have resulted in massive breaches, compromising terabytes of data and hundreds of millions of records.
—
Taylor Brown, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
The absence of diverse perspectives in innovation has led to notable failures.
—Shelley Zalis, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
Learning from but refusing to dwell on failures keeps your business competitive.
—Tom Dunlop, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
After another Minnesota field goal cut the Lions’ lead to one point in the third quarter, the Vikings’ failures to finish drives in the end zone came back to doom them.
—Colton Pouncy, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
The most pressing problem concerns European Union rules on carbon dioxide emissions, with bottom-line-destroying fines for the bigger failures.
—Neil Winton, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025
Just as pilots prepare for engine failures, cybersecurity teams should operate under the assumption that not all vulnerabilities have been identified.
—Oren Koren, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025
Ending the embargo would also open doors for Cuban reformers, dissidents, human rights activists and religious leaders alike by removing the Cuban government’s excuse for its failures.
—Lissa Weinmann, Sun Sentinel, 30 Dec. 2024
Disney was scared off making more theatrical films after Solo underperformed, but its streaming run has produced really only one major hit, The Mandalorian, but a string of high-profile, hugely expensive failures more recently.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Taylor Brown, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
The absence of diverse perspectives in innovation has led to notable failures.
—Shelley Zalis, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
Learning from but refusing to dwell on failures keeps your business competitive.
—Tom Dunlop, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
After another Minnesota field goal cut the Lions’ lead to one point in the third quarter, the Vikings’ failures to finish drives in the end zone came back to doom them.
—Colton Pouncy, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
The most pressing problem concerns European Union rules on carbon dioxide emissions, with bottom-line-destroying fines for the bigger failures.
—Neil Winton, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025
Just as pilots prepare for engine failures, cybersecurity teams should operate under the assumption that not all vulnerabilities have been identified.
—Oren Koren, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025
Ending the embargo would also open doors for Cuban reformers, dissidents, human rights activists and religious leaders alike by removing the Cuban government’s excuse for its failures.
—Lissa Weinmann, Sun Sentinel, 30 Dec. 2024
Disney was scared off making more theatrical films after Solo underperformed, but its streaming run has produced really only one major hit, The Mandalorian, but a string of high-profile, hugely expensive failures more recently.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for failures
Noun
-
In the past few years, the platform has enabled participants to have a real-time snapshot of port and inland network congestion and monitor unexpected cargo shifts caused by disasters like the Baltimore Bridge collapse, and world events, such as the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.—
Lori Ann LaRocco,
CNBC,
23 Dec. 2024
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Another $29 billion will go to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for response, recovery and mitigation related to presidentially declared major disasters.—
Alan Wooten | The Center Square,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
21 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Mabe said chronic staffing shortages must be fixed.—
Laura A. Bischoff,
The Enquirer,
27 Dec. 2024
-
Corrections facilities were long understaffed before the COVID-19 pandemic, and shortages have continued in the years since, Mabe said.—
Laura A. Bischoff,
The Enquirer,
27 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Through November, about 45 retailers have filed for bankruptcy protection in 2024, compared with 25 retail bankruptcies for all of 2023, according to a recent CoreSight report.—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
23 Dec. 2024
-
According to the European Commission, only 40% of businesses in the EU receive payments on time, with late payments contributing to one in four SME bankruptcies.—
Aleksandra Bal,
Forbes,
22 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Life is full of disappointments.—
Brennan Barnard,
Forbes,
3 Jan. 2025
-
There has been an accumulation of losses, missteps and disappointments over recent years that has led to this feeling.—
Kaitlyn McGrath,
The Athletic,
31 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Competing in a high-speed, high-pressure environment taught me to make the quick decisions necessary to grow a company while remaining strong in the face of setbacks.—
Tom Dunlop,
Forbes,
6 Jan. 2025
-
Despite these setbacks, MBM Motorsports is confident, banking on Wallace's past success at superspeedways to see them through.—
Lydia Mee,
Newsweek,
5 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
This spaceplane would advance space exploration and satellite delivery until ultimately being retired following a series of high-profile and tragic catastrophes.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Dec. 2024
-
Kenya grappled with one of its worst floods in recent history, the latest in a string of weather catastrophes, following weeks of extreme rainfall that scientists linked to a changing climate.—
Alan Taylor,
The Atlantic,
9 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
May Improve Depression Repeatedly in scientific literature, deficiencies in many key micronutrients, including zinc and magnesium, have been linked to major depressive disorder (MDD).—
Laura Dorwart,
Verywell Health,
3 Jan. 2025
-
Rapid or excessive weight loss can lead to deficiencies in vitamins and minerals critical for bone health, which is a concern for postmenopausal women.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Flow Space,
3 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Failures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failures. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
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