as in failures
the inability to pay one's debts
learned the hard way the costs of declaring bankruptcy
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Recent Examples of bankruptcies
Retail bankruptcies have had a major impact on malls and their landlords who must seek out new tenants to fill sites being vacated, and/or devise redevelopment plans.
—
David Moin, Footwear News, 11 Feb. 2026
Forbes senior contributor Pamela Danziger writes that even though the news is full of retail bankruptcies and store closures, in-person shopping is seeing a comeback.
—Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
South Africa faced a skills shortage and business bankruptcies soared.
—Eve Fairbanks, The Dial, 27 Jan. 2026
On average, Williams said nearly half of Chapter 13 bankruptcies fail and end up being converted to Chapter 7, in which the filer’s assets are liquidated to pay back creditors.
—Shaddi Abusaid, AJC.com, 27 Jan. 2026
The potential homeowners had to pass background checks, be able to afford the mortgage payment at 30% of their gross monthly income, have no bankruptcies or foreclosures for two years, and meet other criteria.
—Kendrick Calfee
january 27, Kansas City Star, 27 Jan. 2026
Finance frenemies After investment bank Jefferies, JPMorgan and Fifth Third disclosed losses tied to the auto industry bankruptcies in the fall, investors learned the extent of this form of lending.
—Hugh Son, CNBC, 23 Jan. 2026
Personal and business bankruptcies are at a very high level.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 19 Jan. 2026
The reuse of vacant big-box stores has become increasingly common as pandemic-era bankruptcies and changing shopping habits reshape the brick-and-mortar landscape.
—Travis Webb, Austin American Statesman, 16 Jan. 2026
David Moin, Footwear News, 11 Feb. 2026
Forbes senior contributor Pamela Danziger writes that even though the news is full of retail bankruptcies and store closures, in-person shopping is seeing a comeback.
—Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
South Africa faced a skills shortage and business bankruptcies soared.
—Eve Fairbanks, The Dial, 27 Jan. 2026
On average, Williams said nearly half of Chapter 13 bankruptcies fail and end up being converted to Chapter 7, in which the filer’s assets are liquidated to pay back creditors.
—Shaddi Abusaid, AJC.com, 27 Jan. 2026
The potential homeowners had to pass background checks, be able to afford the mortgage payment at 30% of their gross monthly income, have no bankruptcies or foreclosures for two years, and meet other criteria.
—Kendrick Calfee
january 27, Kansas City Star, 27 Jan. 2026
Finance frenemies After investment bank Jefferies, JPMorgan and Fifth Third disclosed losses tied to the auto industry bankruptcies in the fall, investors learned the extent of this form of lending.
—Hugh Son, CNBC, 23 Jan. 2026
Personal and business bankruptcies are at a very high level.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 19 Jan. 2026
The reuse of vacant big-box stores has become increasingly common as pandemic-era bankruptcies and changing shopping habits reshape the brick-and-mortar landscape.
—Travis Webb, Austin American Statesman, 16 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bankruptcies
Noun
-
The Cowboys’ owner and general manager saw the failures in his defense during the 2025 season.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The Justice Department has acknowledged these redaction failures.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The place was used for wild beast hunts, public executions, and gladiator fights for several hundred years, then became a condo of sorts as medieval Romans made their homes in the hulking ruins.—
Katie Parla,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Feb. 2026
-
While family members viewed the ruins stored at Veterans Park, construction crews were working on the site directly across the street.—
Sofia Saric,
Miami Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
MacGuineas also emphasized the pressing need to address long-term entitlement program insolvencies, specifically Medicare and Social Security trust funds, which face financial depletion without reform within roughly seven years.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
9 Oct. 2025
-
The impact on business is particularly pronounced as rising global debt can undermine consumer spending, trigger higher borrowing fees, suppress available capital and result in corporate bankruptcies and/or insolvencies.—
Mitch Salchow,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bankruptcies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bankruptcies. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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