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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of failure
Because of this, investors are now more critical of IPOs after an era where silicon investing frenzies resulted in high-profile failures.
—
Beck Andrew Salgado, Austin American Statesman, 23 July 2025
Overtopping because of inadequate spillway design, debris blockage of spillways or settlement of the dam crest accounts for about 34% of all dam failures in the United States, according to the Association of State Dam Safety Officials.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 23 July 2025
The changes address failures uncovered a year ago by the ProPublica/CBS News investigation.
—Cassandra Jaramillo, ProPublica, 12 July 2025
Ford is recalling over 850,000 vehicles due to a potential low-pressure fuel pump failure, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for failure
Beck Andrew Salgado, Austin American Statesman, 23 July 2025
Overtopping because of inadequate spillway design, debris blockage of spillways or settlement of the dam crest accounts for about 34% of all dam failures in the United States, according to the Association of State Dam Safety Officials.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 23 July 2025
The changes address failures uncovered a year ago by the ProPublica/CBS News investigation.
—Cassandra Jaramillo, ProPublica, 12 July 2025
Ford is recalling over 850,000 vehicles due to a potential low-pressure fuel pump failure, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for failure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for failure
Noun
-
The lawsuit seeks damages and brings claims of battery, negligence and false imprisonment.—
Nathan Pilling
July 19,
Kansas City Star,
19 July 2025
-
Mitchell said that in civil cases where civil negligence is raised, a lawyer would have to show that someone's carelessness caused harm to another person, such as running a red light and hitting someone.—
Elena Santa Cruz,
AZCentral.com,
18 July 2025
Noun
-
Sunday’s defeat capped a roller-coaster first half in which the Yankees jumped out to a 42-25 record, only to follow with a 6-16 skid that included two separate six-game losing streaks.—
Peter Sblendorio,
Hartford Courant,
13 July 2025
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And moments of a 3-2 defeat to the Sounders showed the gap between where KC is at compared to the true competitors in the league.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
13 July 2025
Noun
-
In any disaster, responding quickly can help save people and salve the harm.—
Zoë Schlanger,
The Atlantic,
15 July 2025
-
But there are some disasters that even the most equipped people can’t possibly prepare for.—
Jessica Pishko,
New Yorker,
15 July 2025
Noun
-
California already faces some of the highest housing costs in the country and a shortage of construction workers.—
Umair Irfan,
Wired News,
19 July 2025
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Spain, to cite but one example, has a housing shortage and is currently considering levying a 100% tax on foreign buyers of real estate.—
William P. Barrett,
Forbes.com,
19 July 2025
Noun
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Since emerging from bankruptcy, the company has overhauled its menu—streamlining offerings by 20% while adding new items like Lobster Pappardelle Pasta, Bacon-Wrapped Sea Scallops, and revitalizing favorites including hush puppies and popcorn shrimp.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
25 July 2025
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The documentary was completed prior to Joel’s recent diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus, but there are candid assessments of other struggles he’s endured, including depression, bankruptcy and alcoholism.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
25 July 2025
Noun
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Police always investigate a drowning to rule out cases of abuse or extreme neglect, but an absent-minded parent accidentally forgetting to lock the pool gate or door to the backyard was unlikely to land them behind bars, Hoskin said.—
Elena Santa Cruz,
AZCentral.com,
12 July 2025
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Not only in the United States, where academic medical centers (AMCs) are strained by politics, profit models and bureaucracy—but also in countries like Mexico, where health systems are crumbling under neglect and underfunding.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 July 2025
Noun
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Metallica famously initiated the landmark lawsuit against peer-to-peer file sharing company Napster in 2000, which led to further suits that ultimately caused the company's initial collapse.—
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 July 2025
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The idea of cutting any deal with Maduro is political dynamite in Florida, where more than 350,000 Venezuelan Americans have made their homes and where emotions over Venezuela’s collapse on the hands of the Maduro regime run deep.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
13 July 2025
Noun
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The person denied being responsible for the noose, police said, noting that due to a lack of eyewitnesses and legal probable cause, no charges are expected against the person, who will not be allowed to return for any type of stadium construction.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
24 July 2025
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And the Covid episode itself--when inflation hit 9% before the Fed finally began hiking dramatically--remains a major point of concern about the institution’s lack of intellectual diversity.—
Kelly Evans,
CNBC,
24 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Failure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failure. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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