1
as in to die
to stop functioning
my car failed just as I was about to head to work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to collapse
to be unsuccessful
despite all the publicity, the movie failed miserably at the box office
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to disappoint
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 to weaken
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 to forget
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 fail
As demand for electricity surged, critical infrastructure began to fail.
—
Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 13 Feb. 2026
This isn’t just about Frost failing at Nebraska and being fired with a 16-31 record after four-plus seasons.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
Not only did the Democratic Labor Party fail to secure a seat, but its leader Ralph Thorne was unable to vote.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
When technology systems fail, the responsibility of the court does not disappear.
—Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fail
Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 13 Feb. 2026
This isn’t just about Frost failing at Nebraska and being fired with a 16-31 record after four-plus seasons.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
Not only did the Democratic Labor Party fail to secure a seat, but its leader Ralph Thorne was unable to vote.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
When technology systems fail, the responsibility of the court does not disappear.
—Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fail
Verb
-
Both died from complications of Alzheimer's disease.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Feb. 2026
-
In the ongoing Yemeni civil war, close to 400,000 have died since 2014—and the number will go higher still.—
Josef Joffe,
The Atlantic,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Abstract governance debates collapse when basic participation and revenue data are examined.—
Michael Fealey,
Sportico.com,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Or that there is a wild proliferation of parallel universes, or that a mysterious process causes quantumness to spontaneously collapse.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The event has attracted thousands of attendees and the line-up does not disappoint.—
Leonie Kidd,
CNBC,
15 Feb. 2026
-
That rhetoric has been replaced by a basic long-leash Republicanism — a shift that may be unsurprising with a dealmaker in the Oval Office, but has disappointed progressives and hardcore populists and sent legal sherpas scrambling to freshen their advice.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Investors don’t want to inadvertently cheer on weakening job growth that could negatively impact consumer spending and economic growth, hurting stock prices.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The National Weather Service says the ridge keeping California dry since last month is beginning to weaken.—
Monica Garske,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Crazy how that works, and crazy that so many people seem to have forgotten that lesson (and many others) from their civics classes in high school.—
Brenda Looper,
Arkansas Online,
11 Feb. 2026
-
But even if that New Year's resolution of clearing out the basement once and for all has been forgotten or abandoned by now, the year is still young.—
Rebecca Jones,
Southern Living,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Bell 407 helicopter crashed on Flagstaff's west side, a few miles from Route 66 in a less densely populated area to the north of Brewer's neighborhood.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Three people were killed and six more were wounded on Thursday after a car hit a bicyclist and crashed into a grocery store in Los Angeles, according to authorities.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Before playing in the last four games, Reaves had missed the previous 19 with his calf injury.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When Dreher wrote The Benedict Option, during the Obama presidency, his primary concern was how to keep faith alive at a time when Christianity seemed to be fading away.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Relationship endings are possible under this influence — don’t insist on forcing a connection that’s trying to fade.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fail. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
