1
as in died
to stop functioning
my car failed just as I was about to head to work
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in collapsed
to be unsuccessful
despite all the publicity, the movie failed miserably at the box office
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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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in unsuccessful
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in inadequate
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of failed
Brendan Cole
john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
The jack supporting the vehicle Lord was underneath failed, and the vehicle crushed him, Michelle said.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Sep. 2025
Kennedy’s family famously opposed an earlier failed wind project not far from the family’s Cape Cod estate.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
An attempt to do something different after most of Peacock’s failed comedies have been weekly?
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2025
The deal, rumored for months, comes after Walgreens, which had a market value of more than $100 billion a decade ago, undertook a failed in-store clinic rollout that led it to close hundreds of stores to reduce debt and stem financial losses.
—Bruce Japsen, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
The three failed Starship test flights to start the year ended before the ship reached reentry.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2025
The 16-year-old who helped prepare a failed terrorist attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna, Austria, last year has been convicted in Germany, reports the BBC.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 27 Aug. 2025
My dad was a failed entrepreneur.
—Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2025
Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Although his shoes contained 10 ounces of highly explosive material, his attempt to light the fuse failed because of foot perspiration.
—Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
The book chronicles Harris’ failed presidential campaign and offers yet another insider’s look at former President Joe Biden’s struggles.
—Nicole Russell, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Watkins ranks second among forwards for shots in the box (eight) but has failed to convert one big chance during this string of blanks.
—Holly Shand, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
These procedures failed, in this instance, to detect the firearm.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Hamas said on Tuesday night that Israel failed to assassinate Al-Hayya and the negotiations delegation.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
However, recent installments have failed to live up to the hype.
—Kelsie Gibson, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025
At the conclusion of the state's case Wednesday, the defense moved to have the case dismissed, arguing the state had failed to prove its case.
—Arkansas Online, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
Russia is planning to launch two more major offensives after three failed campaigns this year, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
—Brendan Cole
john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
The jack supporting the vehicle Lord was underneath failed, and the vehicle crushed him, Michelle said.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Sep. 2025
Kennedy’s family famously opposed an earlier failed wind project not far from the family’s Cape Cod estate.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
An attempt to do something different after most of Peacock’s failed comedies have been weekly?
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2025
The deal, rumored for months, comes after Walgreens, which had a market value of more than $100 billion a decade ago, undertook a failed in-store clinic rollout that led it to close hundreds of stores to reduce debt and stem financial losses.
—Bruce Japsen, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
The three failed Starship test flights to start the year ended before the ship reached reentry.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2025
The 16-year-old who helped prepare a failed terrorist attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna, Austria, last year has been convicted in Germany, reports the BBC.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 27 Aug. 2025
My dad was a failed entrepreneur.
—Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Yet most failed to note the hospital’s long-standing use as a base for Hamas operations.
—Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Although his shoes contained 10 ounces of highly explosive material, his attempt to light the fuse failed because of foot perspiration.
—Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
The book chronicles Harris’ failed presidential campaign and offers yet another insider’s look at former President Joe Biden’s struggles.
—Nicole Russell, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Watkins ranks second among forwards for shots in the box (eight) but has failed to convert one big chance during this string of blanks.
—Holly Shand, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
These procedures failed, in this instance, to detect the firearm.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Hamas said on Tuesday night that Israel failed to assassinate Al-Hayya and the negotiations delegation.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
However, recent installments have failed to live up to the hype.
—Kelsie Gibson, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025
At the conclusion of the state's case Wednesday, the defense moved to have the case dismissed, arguing the state had failed to prove its case.
—Arkansas Online, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for failed
Verb
-
According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 65,000 Palestinians have died so far in the Israel-Hamas war.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Kirk died on September 10 during a public Turning Point USA event hosted by the activist at Utah Valley University.—
Marni Rose McFall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Smith’s extended lunge was needed as Chapman’s throw barely beat Pages’ speed, but Smith instantly collapsed onto his side.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
14 Sep. 2025
-
As usual, Florida’s offense looked stagnant and rarely gave the sophomore quarterback good options before his pocket collapsed.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Both Delta and Aeromexico said in separate statements that the carriers were disappointed by the department's decision and were reviewing the order before considering next steps.—
Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
16 Sep. 2025
-
On that note, the ACRC survey reported that 52% of affluents were disappointed with the options presented by luxury brands.—
Pamela N. Danziger,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Childhood illnesses had severely weakened her own heart.—
Ruchi Kumar,
NPR,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Since then, the legal safeguards against such encounters have weakened.—
Sydney Barragan,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Safdie, however, never forgot about it.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Cali forgot who’d dropped the ball.—
Bryan Washington,
New Yorker,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
While Hadden-Paton was unsuccessful in keeping his dapper suit, his costar, Hugh Bonneville, who plays Lord Grantham, confessed to Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan on Live!—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
14 Sep. 2025
-
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reached out for comment but was unsuccessful.—
Natalie Eilbert,
jsonline.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
What progress has been public has been from outside that investigation, like State Auditor Diana DiZoglio’s office issuing a report that found the MSP’s training is inadequate.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
-
More than half of these women have left their jobs under the weight of these tasks, with two-thirds citing inadequate employer support.—
Liz Teran,
Fortune,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That Tuesday morning, Rodriguez was home with a seven-month-old baby when a friend of hers—who happened to be a police officer at the 41st Precinct in the Bronx—called her to tell her a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center.—
Rachel Burchfield,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
And in a rural field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, a similar ceremony marked by moments of silence, the reading of names and the laying of wreaths, will honor the victims of Flight 93, the hijacked plane that crashed after crew members and passengers tried to storm the cockpit.—
Philip Marcelo,
Fortune,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Failed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failed. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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