FAILING Synonyms: 204 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'failing' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of failing are fault , foible , frailty , and vice . While all these words mean "an imperfection or weakness of character," failing suggests a minor shortcoming in character. // being late is a failing of mine

Q: When might 'fault' be a better fit than 'failing'?

The synonyms fault and failing are sometimes interchangeable, but fault implies a failure, not necessarily culpable, to reach some standard of perfection in disposition, action, or habit. // a writer of many virtues and few faults

Q: When is 'foible' a more appropriate choice than 'failing'?

While in some cases nearly identical to failing , foible applies to a harmless or endearing weakness or idiosyncrasy. // an eccentric's charming foibles

Q: When could 'frailty' be used to replace 'failing'?

The words frailty and failing are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, frailty implies a general or chronic proneness to yield to temptation. // human frailties

Q: When would 'vice' be a good substitute for 'failing'?

Although the words vice and failing have much in common, vice can be a general term for any imperfection or weakness, but it often suggests violation of a moral code or the giving of offense to the moral sensibilities of others. // compulsive gambling was his vice

failing 1 of 3

noun

ˈfā-liŋ

Definition of failing

as in fault

a defect in character we could talk about your failings, but it would take all night

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

failing

2 of 3

adjective

as in dying

Related Words

failing

3 of 3

verb

present participle of fail

as in crashing

to stop functioning my car failed just as I was about to head to work

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starting (up)

as in collapsing

to be unsuccessful despite all the publicity, the movie failed miserably at the box office

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as in disappointing

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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as in weakening

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

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as in forgetting

to miss the opportunity or obligation failed to mention that he was looking for new job

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun failing differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of failing are fault, foible, frailty, and vice. While all these words mean "an imperfection or weakness of character," failing suggests a minor shortcoming in character.

being late is a failing of mine

When might fault be a better fit than failing?

The synonyms fault and failing are sometimes interchangeable, but fault implies a failure, not necessarily culpable, to reach some standard of perfection in disposition, action, or habit.

a writer of many virtues and few faults

When is foible a more appropriate choice than failing?

While in some cases nearly identical to failing, foible applies to a harmless or endearing weakness or idiosyncrasy.

an eccentric's charming foibles

When could frailty be used to replace failing?

The words frailty and failing are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, frailty implies a general or chronic proneness to yield to temptation.

human frailties

When would vice be a good substitute for failing?

Although the words vice and failing have much in common, vice can be a general term for any imperfection or weakness, but it often suggests violation of a moral code or the giving of offense to the moral sensibilities of others.

compulsive gambling was his vice

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 failing

Noun

The boot camp fosters an environment where students feel comfortable failing, said Saint Juste, 20, who will attend Kennesaw State University in the fall. — Francesca Pinney, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026 If Fauci was the patron saint of all that was good about public health, he was also demonized for all of its failings. — Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026

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

Verb

The suit was not filed under a new law passed earlier this year, which requires more regular inspections of the Geo facility and empowers state authorities to penalize the company for failing to comply with communicable disease probes. — Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2026 Ward was also charged with drunken driving and failing to reduce speed to avoid a collision, police said. — Dennis Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for failing

Recent Examples of Synonyms for failing

Noun

Deadly fires, often linked to electrical faults or gas cylinder explosions, are common in India where investigators have frequently pointed to safety lapses and inadequate enforcement of fire regulations as contributing to recurring loss of life.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
If Russia behaved badly, that was the fault of its primitive and cruel Asian side, a notion that conveniently created the fiction that Western countries are not capable of similar cruelty.

— Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of fault

Verb

That’s likely an attempt to minimize any concerns raised by the communities where the service is expanding, given these drones have already been scrutinized for crashing into cranes, internet cables, gardens, and an apartment building.

— Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 19 Aug. 2026
The helicopter lost its blades in the crash before crashing into the ground and rolling onto it side, Bivens said.

— Ayesha Ali, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of crashing

Verb

Scientists have discovered that copper melts gradually rather than collapsing all at once under extreme heat.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026
Videos posted to social media showed buildings collapsing and panicked residents running and screaming, as dust filled the sky.

— Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of collapsing

Verb

After disappointing back-to-back last-place finishes in the WLL Championship Series, the team set the tone this summer with a thrilling 18-17 overtime win against the Palms on May 29 in Baltimore.

— Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 17 Aug. 2026
The Royal Shakespeare Company production was set to launch previews Monday, July 20 but all four performances this week were canceled, disappointing a number of fans who traveled from afar, including overseas.

— K.J. Yossman, Variety, 24 July 2026

Definition of disappointing

Verb

Anderson said population and labor-force declines, along with the Bay Area’s high housing costs, are weakening both the supply of workers and demand for them in many traditional industries.

— George Avalos, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026
Rather than weakening the rule, the authors recommended strengthening it by passing the Roadless Area Conservation Act, which would turn the agency regulations into federal law.

— Dan Peck, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of weakening

Verb

Because creating that avenue was a theme of loss and remembering and what forgetting or remembering means for a character.

— Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2026
Really, the challenge as an actor is forgetting all the playfulness, ambition and tone around it, or even the books and the research and just playing the truth of it.

— Matt Minton, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of forgetting

Noun

If a bear market arrives shortly after retirement, a cash reserve can allow a family to meet expenses without immediately selling long-term investments into weakness.

— Steve Booren, Denver Post, 16 Aug. 2026
To be sure, efforts to prop up the yen were seen as short-term measures to address the symptoms rather than the root causes of the currency’s weakness.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of weakness

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“Failing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failing. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of failing

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