failed 1 of 2

adjective

1
as in unsuccessful

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2
as in inadequate

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failed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of fail
1
as in died
to stop functioning my car failed just as I was about to head to work

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2
as in collapsed
to be unsuccessful despite all the publicity, the movie failed miserably at the box office

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3
as in disappointed
to fall short in satisfying the expectation or hope of although the minor-league franchise continues to fail local fans, hope springs eternal

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4
as in weakened
to lose bodily strength or vigor ever since she reached the age of 90, Grandma has been noticeably failing

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5
as in forgot
to miss the opportunity or obligation failed to mention that he was looking for new job

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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 failed
Adjective
The board also voted down a proposal to increase rider fares to generate between $8 million and $12 million after a lengthy discussion and multiple failed amendments aimed at trying to persuade a majority of directors to pass the motion. — Katie Langford, Denver Post, 29 July 2026 Support has coalesced around former state Senate President Troy Jackson, a fifth-generation logger from rural northern Maine who campaigned alongside Platner during a failed bid for governor and was a favorite among progressives to replace him. — ABC News, 25 July 2026 Support coalesced around Jackson, a former Maine Senate president and fifth-generation logger from rural northern Maine who campaigned alongside Platner during a failed bid for governor and was a favorite among progressives to replace him. — Patrick Whittle, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2026 About 40 miles south of Nashville, on a river recognized as one of the most biodiverse in the world, stand the remains of a failed dam that just won’t stay dead. — Henry Liu, Washington Post, 21 July 2026 The only country doing well at the time was energy-rich Venezuela — which today is considered a failed state. — Larry Luxner, Sun Sentinel, 20 July 2026 Their exchange revived a rivalry dating back to Musk's failed 2018 bid to take control of OpenAI. — Diane Brady, Fortune, 14 July 2026 JadePuffer went from a failed login to a working fix in 31 seconds, according to Sysdig and TechCrunch. — Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 The latter was the leader of a failed uprising against the ruling Elizabeth 1, and the weeping stag was often used as a symbol adopted by the Earl’s supporters. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 9 July 2026
Verb
Israel even went after Tehran’s own leaders – killing former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – in the hope of triggering regime change, which has so far failed. — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026 Brookfield was able to acquire a different version of the business from the one that had failed. — Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026 More than half a decade ago, Garg failed to get into the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), a prestigious institute, despite a good score. — Priyanka Salve,raksha Murali, CNBC, 2 Aug. 2026 Installation and maintenance, loading and stocking and construction jobs, have also failed to recover. — Irina Anghel, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2026 After the sides failed to reach a long-term extension, the Texans traded Clowney to the Seahawks for a third-round pick, Jacob Martin and Barkevious Mingo. — Mike Jones, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026 Miller failed at first, leaving a 103 mph fastball up and over the plate that Osleivis Basabe hit to left field for a game-tying double. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Aug. 2026 Noh was one shot behind and had two reasonable looks at birdie — with Kuwaki already in the clubhouse at 279 — but failed to convert. — ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026 Investigators allege the beatings occurred after the pledge failed to correctly answer questions about the fraternity. — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 27 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for failed
  1. unsuccessful
  2. inadequate
  3. died
  4. collapsed
  5. disappointed
  6. weakened
  7. forgot
  8. failing
Adjective
  • Attempts to reach Williams’ family for comment were unsuccessful Sunday evening.
    — Dana Griffin, NBC news, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The team tried excavating another unknown soldier from an unrelated case just a day before, but were unsuccessful.
    — Hope McKenney, NPR, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of unsuccessful
Adjective
  • In the eyes of many groups who provide assistance to the city’s homeless residents, Atlanta’s response to the broiling temperatures was woefully inadequate.
    — Drew Kann, AJC.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • In a statement describing Abbott’s pause as inadequate, Hinojosa called for Abbott to issue a full moratorium on data center development until the state legislature can pass stricter rules.
    — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of inadequate
Verb
  • The two crew members — one Greek and one Danish national — died when their helicopter collided with another near the seaside area of Psatha while tackling the fire that started Friday morning.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator later determined the newborn died by homicide, finding that the child died from entrapment after being placed and tied inside a plastic trash bag beneath bloody paper towels and other garbage.
    — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of died
Verb
  • Thirty-odd years after Communist rule collapsed in eastern Europe, Budapest finally feels revitalized.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Many of those on that flight were killed when a hotel they were being housed at collapsed in the quake.
    — Rocio Munoz, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of collapsed
Verb
  • Most were farming a token airdrop rather than playing, and when the airdrop disappointed that autumn the audience fell to 41 million by November.
    — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • For cocktails, head to the Copenhagen institution Ruby to ogle at Danish artwork and a must-order is the Butt Naked Old Fashioned—you won’t be disappointed.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of disappointed
Verb
  • Except that the original ideas about the fundamental value of basic research have only been confirmed during this period, not weakened.
    — Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • But his father had come home later than usual, and his resolve had steadily weakened.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of weakened
Verb
  • After Graham was eulogized Tuesday in the nation's capital as an indefatigable dealmaker by the president, vice president and others, mourners in Columbia prepared to remember him Wednesday as the son of pool hall owners who never forgot his roots.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 July 2026
  • Most businesses didn’t pick up the phone; others forgot their name or address.
    — Richard Nieva, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
Definition of forgot
Adjective
  • The state graded the campus an F for three consecutive years, meaning two more failing grades could trigger an intervention.
    — Noah Alcala Bach, San Antonio Express-News, 1 Jan. 2026
Definition of failing

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Cite this Entry

“Failed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failed. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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