: a usually slight or insignificant defect in character, conduct, or ability
: in absence or default of
failing specific instructions, use your own judgment
Synonyms
Examples of failing in a Sentence
Noun
He has some minor failings.
we could talk about your failings, but it would take all night
Preposition
Failing progress in the peace process, war seems likely.
Recent Examples on the Web
Stewart Mandel, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
Hence, the population loss was bandied about Red America as irrefutable evidence of the blue state’s social collapse, its moral rot and the failings of its left-leaning political leadership.
—Mark Z. Barabak, The Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2025
Whatever its failings, that integration shared what was arguably the city’s best public high school with thousands of less-privileged students.
—Tim Golden, ProPublica, 13 Jan. 2025
Asked about the area of focus in that review, Spoelstra also pointed to the defensive failings in Thursday night’s 128-115 loss to the visiting Indiana Pacers.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for failing 
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Noun
Franklin is a legend in his own mind that refuses to address and remedy his faults and failings.
—Stewart Mandel, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
Hence, the population loss was bandied about Red America as irrefutable evidence of the blue state’s social collapse, its moral rot and the failings of its left-leaning political leadership.
—Mark Z. Barabak, The Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2025
Whatever its failings, that integration shared what was arguably the city’s best public high school with thousands of less-privileged students.
—Tim Golden, ProPublica, 13 Jan. 2025
Asked about the area of focus in that review, Spoelstra also pointed to the defensive failings in Thursday night’s 128-115 loss to the visiting Indiana Pacers.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for failing
Dictionary Entries Near failing
Cite this Entry
“Failing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/failing. Accessed 26 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
failing
1 of 2 noun
fail·ing
ˈfā-liŋ 
failing
2 of 2 preposition
: in the absence or lack of
failing specific instructions, use your own judgment
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