1
as in unsuccessful
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
2
as in inadequate
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in died
to stop functioning
my car failed just as I was about to head to work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in collapsed
to be unsuccessful
despite all the publicity, the movie failed miserably at the box office
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in weakened
to lose bodily strength or vigor
ever since she reached the age of 90, Grandma has been noticeably failing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in forgot
to miss the opportunity or obligation
failed to mention that he was looking for new job
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Tracy Lawrence,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
After the failed 2024/2025 merger, the two companies, along with Mitsubishi, have sought to collaborate in a more limited capacity and standardize electronic control units between them.
—
Adam Ismail,
The Drive,
1 July 2026
Hershey centers on the titular businessman’s efforts to launch his eponymous chocolate company after numerous failed attempts.
—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
29 June 2026
The violence, described as a failed insurrection by President Cyril Ramaphosa, vandalized more than 160 shopping malls, led to tens of thousands of job losses, and cost the economy roughly $3 billion.
—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
29 June 2026
After taking a lot of heat (lower case) over the years for failed attempts on big signings, Pat Riley finally landed another whale in Giannis.
—
Greg Cote
june 28,
Miami Herald,
28 June 2026
People who came here from two failed nations – Syria and Haiti — were hit Thursday with a Supreme Court ruling that strips away their protection against deportation.
—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 June 2026
Executives say their top AI priorities over the next two or three years include more reliable and accurate ETAs (68 percent), real-time routing optimization (56 percent) and reduced failed deliveries (49 percent).
—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
26 June 2026
In the neighboring 6th District, McClain Delaney is trying to hold off Trone, the Total Wine co-founder who gave up the seat for a failed 2024 Senate bid.
—
Luke Fountain,
CNBC,
23 June 2026
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
6 July 2026
The stutter-step approach by Bruno Guimãraes on the penalty kick failed anyway and the game remained scoreless into the first hydration break.
—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
5 July 2026
The concerns now being raised by faculty should not be interpreted as proof that admissions policies have failed, and the causes of declining academic preparation extend well beyond admissions offices.
—
Scott White,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2026
The mural failed to gain historic status, and the injunction expired in 2019, leaving the mural subject to destruction.
—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
5 July 2026
Trump’s past attempts to broker a peace between Russia and Ukraine have failed to bring about an agreement.
—
Reuters,
NBC news,
5 July 2026
Among the few soccer stars who failed to shine in the 2026 tournament, Son has not returned to LAFC since the group reassembled for its second preseason.
—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
4 July 2026
Morocco lost a pair of 1-0 games before tying Spain but failed to get out of the group stage.
—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
25 June 2026
Democrats offered the legislation, which failed on a party-line vote, ahead of a fast-approaching July 1 deadline, when the borrowing limits will take effect for Americans nationwide.
—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
25 June 2026
Adjective
Adaptive organizations know that some of the best data comes from failed experiments.
—
Tracy Lawrence,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
After the failed 2024/2025 merger, the two companies, along with Mitsubishi, have sought to collaborate in a more limited capacity and standardize electronic control units between them.
—
Adam Ismail,
The Drive,
1 July 2026
Hershey centers on the titular businessman’s efforts to launch his eponymous chocolate company after numerous failed attempts.
—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
29 June 2026
The violence, described as a failed insurrection by President Cyril Ramaphosa, vandalized more than 160 shopping malls, led to tens of thousands of job losses, and cost the economy roughly $3 billion.
—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
29 June 2026
After taking a lot of heat (lower case) over the years for failed attempts on big signings, Pat Riley finally landed another whale in Giannis.
—
Greg Cote
june 28,
Miami Herald,
28 June 2026
People who came here from two failed nations – Syria and Haiti — were hit Thursday with a Supreme Court ruling that strips away their protection against deportation.
—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 June 2026
Executives say their top AI priorities over the next two or three years include more reliable and accurate ETAs (68 percent), real-time routing optimization (56 percent) and reduced failed deliveries (49 percent).
—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
26 June 2026
In the neighboring 6th District, McClain Delaney is trying to hold off Trone, the Total Wine co-founder who gave up the seat for a failed 2024 Senate bid.
—
Luke Fountain,
CNBC,
23 June 2026
Verb
This was the case for Morocco’s opener, where Casemiro had eyes on two players at once while his team-mates failed to cut out the pass ahead of him.
—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
6 July 2026
The stutter-step approach by Bruno Guimãraes on the penalty kick failed anyway and the game remained scoreless into the first hydration break.
—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
5 July 2026
The concerns now being raised by faculty should not be interpreted as proof that admissions policies have failed, and the causes of declining academic preparation extend well beyond admissions offices.
—
Scott White,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2026
The mural failed to gain historic status, and the injunction expired in 2019, leaving the mural subject to destruction.
—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
5 July 2026
Trump’s past attempts to broker a peace between Russia and Ukraine have failed to bring about an agreement.
—
Reuters,
NBC news,
5 July 2026
Among the few soccer stars who failed to shine in the 2026 tournament, Son has not returned to LAFC since the group reassembled for its second preseason.
—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
4 July 2026
Morocco lost a pair of 1-0 games before tying Spain but failed to get out of the group stage.
—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
25 June 2026
Democrats offered the legislation, which failed on a party-line vote, ahead of a fast-approaching July 1 deadline, when the borrowing limits will take effect for Americans nationwide.
—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
25 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for failed
Adjective
-
Her 36-year-old NFL star boyfriend was also coming off another season playing for the Kansas City Chiefs, which ended with an unsuccessful campaign for a third consecutive Super Bowl ring.
-
However, the efforts were unsuccessful, according to the statement.
Adjective
-
The complaint alleges that the conduct contributed to two patient deaths linked to inadequate care.
-
Frustration has mounted over what many Venezuelans saw as an inadequate government response, with soldiers, firefighters, police and emergency services struggling to respond to the scale of the disaster.
Verb
-
When Khomeini died in 1989, Khamenei became his successor within a matter of weeks.
-
At least 31 children died in hot cars in 2025, according to the National Safety Council and nine have died this year.
Verb
-
Witnesses said ambulances and rescue workers rushed to the scene after the roof collapsed.
-
Families of the people in both apartment buildings – and others that collapsed in the area – have uploaded videos to social media in the days after the earthquake, pleading for help.
Verb
-
Fans expecting brilliant French offense in the Philadelphia Stadium sweatbox had reason to be disappointed.
-
As the game drew to a close, he also would have been disappointed not to have lifted the ball over the keeper after he was slipped through by Mbappe on the counter.
Verb
-
Yet finance, policy certainty and infrastructure weakened for the first time in more than a decade.
-
Internal fractures, economic decline and public frustration have weakened the movement and opened a new chapter of uncertainty.
Verb
-
In the first years after the Declaration of Independence was signed, many Americans forgot about it.
-
The boy’s father was supposed to drop off the boy at school in the morning but forgot the child was in the car, Novoa said.
Adjective
-
The state graded the campus an F for three consecutive years, meaning two more failing grades could trigger an intervention.
Cite this Entry
“Failed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failed. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
