failure

noun

ˈfāl-yər How to pronounce failure (audio)
Definition of failurenext
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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
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 South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned any acts of violence against migrants but also conceded to government failures around enforcing immigration laws. — ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026 But after last week’s Wall Street Journal story highlighting six months of failure within the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, the family might soon want a pound of flesh. — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 8 Aug. 2026 The worst incident, by far, is the failure of the Smithsonian to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the nation’s birth adequately, making little notice of the event. — Rob Crilly, The Washington Examiner, 7 Aug. 2026 Across the measured period, 69 percent of stockout losses fell on the top 10 percent of brands, and most brands experienced repeat failures. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for failure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for failure
  1. negligence
  2. defeat
  3. disaster
  4. shortage
  5. bankruptcy
  6. neglect
  7. collapse
  8. catastrophe
Noun
  • Even if the property is held in an LLC, the property manager will be personally liable for their personal negligence.
    — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Last week, Nolan-O’Slatarra’s family filed a summons with notice against Durnan in Manhattan Supreme Court, accusing him of assault, gross negligence, and reckless and wanton conduct in connection with the woman’s death.
    — Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of negligence
Noun
  • But the Cardinals surged with two outs in the fifth, rallying for three runs against Warren to deal the Yankees a 3-1 defeat and a series loss.
    — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The Nexstar-Tegna deal suffered a legal defeat in April 2026 when a court issued an injunction halting the companies from continuing with their merger integration in a lawsuit filed by eight state attorneys general.
    — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of defeat
Noun
  • Next week, for the first time ever, Taiwan will deliberately slow its mobile internet speed, testing how citizens would communicate if bandwidth becomes scarce in emergencies ranging ⁠from disasters to a Chinese invasion.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • There was another near disaster when, two weeks out from the wedding, the couple learned their venue couldn’t accommodate them.
    — Jessica Salter, Vogue, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of disaster
Noun
  • The barrage has caused fuel shortages in Russia, eaten into Russian refining capacity, and unsettled the Russian public.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Wong said the permanent closure was a result of rising food costs, inflation, labor shortages and the economy in general.
    — Daily News, Daily News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of shortage
Noun
  • Here, the bankruptcy trustee knew about the Purplemed sale for $15 million and that most of the funds were in the Children's Trust.
    — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Meanwhile, Salad and Go filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and closed all of its locations yesterday.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of bankruptcy
Noun
  • In all, the lawsuit claimed the agency failed to properly investigate five of the seven complaints of abuse or neglect the county received about the girl in 2021.
    — Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Medicaid Fraud Control Units were principally responsible for investigating providers, while also prosecuting the abuse and neglect of patients whose care was billed to Medicaid.
    — Ben Zdencanovic, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of neglect
Noun
  • But Bijan Khajehpour, another Iran expert and the managing partner at consulting firm Eurasian Nexus Partners, doesn’t think Iran’s economy is headed for imminent collapse.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026
  • However, the article emphasizes socialism's historical failures, citing the collapse of the Soviet Union and Venezuela's severe economic devastation under socialist policies.
    — Mike Patton, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of collapse
Noun
  • Looking for traces of a Toba catastrophe in standard sediment cores was like timing a sprint with a calendar.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Near the end of the novel, the reader finds Anna living inside a kaleidoscope of catastrophe.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of catastrophe

Browse Nearby Words

fails (at)
failure
failures
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Cite this Entry

“Failure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failure. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of failure for Spanish Speakers

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