FAILURE Synonyms: 127 Similar and Opposite Words

failure

noun

ˈfāl-yər

Definition of failure

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

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

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

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in bankruptcy

the inability to pay one's debts years of prolonged economic depression, when business failures were common

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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 Its failures are human failures, its shoddiness human shoddiness. — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026 When Coyote arrives at Kevin’s office, the man wants to aim for only a small settlement for Acme’s faulty rocket shoes despite his client’s wealth of evidence of other product failures. — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026 After Katrina made landfall in Louisiana, the failure of New Orleans’ federal levee system inundated about 80% of the city in floodwaters. — Jack Brook, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026 In 2011, Fabares told PBS Houston that after suffering liver failure and facing death, her outlook on life completely changed. — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for failure

Recent Examples of Synonyms for failure

Noun

Earlier this year, two men, Christopher Sage and Terry Thompson, sued DraftKings, FanDuel and other companies for negligence, design defect, failure to warn, unfair trade practices and related claims.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 1 Sep. 2026
After the crash, Bustillos was charged with one count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence.

— Jacob Sisneros, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of negligence

Noun

De Fougerolles featured in all five of Canada’s World Cup matches, starting four, including in the co-hosts’ last-16 3-0 defeat against Morocco on July 4.

— Tom Bogert, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
The Tar Heels lost two NBA players in Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar from a team that lost in the round of 64 in March at the NCAA Tournament, a defeat that precipitated the firing of former men’s head coach Hubert Davis.

— Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of defeat

Noun

Due to brass shortages, some knives had to be made with wooden handles, out of compressed leather washers, or bakelite plastic.

— David Szondy August 30, New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026
Some allege that the government has engineered fuel shortages to make an agreement unavoidable, others go further, accusing moderates of staging a coup.

— Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of shortage

Noun

Before GLP-1s won over insurers and consumers alike, a whole generation of obesity drugs failed to reach blockbuster status; some instead went to bankruptcy court.

— Avalon Pernell, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
On October 15, 2018, Sears Holdings Corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

— Jason Goldberg, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of bankruptcy

Noun

Nacua’s ex-girlfriend and the mother of his child, Hallie Aiono, has now accused him of abuse and neglect during their four-year relationship.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Maryland provides legal representation to children involved in abuse and neglect, termination-of-parental-rights and related proceedings.

— John Mattingly, Baltimore Sun, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of neglect

Noun

Escaping an energy collapse Things didn’t collapse as analysts feared at the beginning of the conflict.

— Katie Silver, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
The letter provides the most complete window into Kapoor’s thinking since the collapse of his company, Location Ventures, three years ago.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of collapse

Noun

Summary Coastal and high-risk hotels face soaring insurance premiums, up 45-100%, as natural catastrophe losses escalate.

— Josipa Majic Predin, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
That didn’t stop catastrophes like the 2018 fire in the Sierra foothills that destroyed the town of Paradise and killed 85.

— Michael Finnegan, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of catastrophe

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fails (at)

failure

failures

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“Failure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failure. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of failure

noun

Example Sentences

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