as in fault
a defect in character
we could talk about your failings, but it would take all night
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in dying
Related Words
1
as in crashing
to stop functioning
my car failed just as I was about to head to work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in collapsing
to be unsuccessful
despite all the publicity, the movie failed miserably at the box office
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disappointing
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 weakening
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 forgetting
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 failing
David Greising,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
Despite the immeasurable impact of Juneteenth, many people don't begin celebrating it until later on in life, which often reflects a failing of American education and the rejection of critical race theory.
—
Danielle Broadway,
Parents,
19 June 2026
Noah Alcala Bach,
San Antonio Express-News,
1 Jan. 2026
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
1 July 2026
No wonder all those return-to-office initiatives are failing in California’s tech hubs—no one can afford to live anywhere close to the office.
—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for failing
Noun
An investigation by the Better Government Association’s Illinois Answers Project enumerated the most striking failings of the city’s anti-displacement efforts.
—
David Greising,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
Despite the immeasurable impact of Juneteenth, many people don't begin celebrating it until later on in life, which often reflects a failing of American education and the rejection of critical race theory.
—
Danielle Broadway,
Parents,
19 June 2026
Adjective
The state graded the campus an F for three consecutive years, meaning two more failing grades could trigger an intervention.
—
Noah Alcala Bach,
San Antonio Express-News,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
Adams, whose health had been failing, died at age 90 on his farm in Massachusetts.
—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
1 July 2026
No wonder all those return-to-office initiatives are failing in California’s tech hubs—no one can afford to live anywhere close to the office.
—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for failing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for failing
Noun
-
Small accidents, although no fault of your own, may cause this.
-
Through no fault of her own, Clark has become part of the culture war.
Adjective
-
What’s the vibe for you, post-dying?
-
Garden centers aren't giving a refund for a dying or dead plant but rather a discount on a new purchase.
Verb
-
They were taken into custody after crashing into a police squad car.
-
More than 40,000 Colombian fans were expected at the match and this time, nobody was crashing through the gates without tickets, as thousands did for the 2024 Copa America final against Argentina.
Verb
-
The camaraderie was evident on the ground here in La Guaira, the coastal city where quake damage was most severe, collapsing dozens of buildings.
-
Unlike straw or lower-grade wool blends, beaver felt can be reworked without collapsing its structure, which is what allows hats to be reshaped by hand rather than stamped out of a mold.
Verb
-
Colombia held Ronaldo in check all night Saturday, surely disappointing his legion of fans.
-
He was devastated, not only over the prospect of missing the game, but disappointing his son.
Verb
-
Goldman Sachs predicts a sustained dollar weakening in 2026, driven by fiscal concerns and shifting global asset demand, marking a structural shift rather than a cyclical dip.
-
Ukrainian officials describe the strikes as a campaign to pressure Moscow to end the war by undermining its military logistics and supply lines and weakening its ability to mount assaults along the front.
Verb
-
But Alito’s stance against birthright citizenship goes beyond just forgetting his roots.
-
For any leader overseeing transformational change, the challenge is figuring out how to fix one part of the company without forgetting about the other parts.
Noun
-
The weakness that began in technology stocks spread through Asia and Europe on Tuesday, while precious metals also came under pressure as investors reassessed the path of interest rates.
-
When the complex was being constructed, there were deviations from the building’s original design, contributing to structural weaknesses, the report said.
Cite this Entry
“Failing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failing. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
