1
as in dies
to stop functioning
my car failed just as I was about to head to work
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in collapses
to be unsuccessful
despite all the publicity, the movie failed miserably at the box office
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disappoints
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 weakens
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 forgets
to miss the opportunity or obligation
failed to mention that he was looking for new job
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fails
And really, if Young fails, Canales fails, too.
—
Mike Kaye
september 10, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
Alternatively, a star being ripped apart in TDE could produce a day-long GRB, but this scenario fails to replicate other properties of the GRB 250702B, an explosion that would require a very unusual star being destroyed by an even stranger black hole.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Or, if Congress fails to act altogether, beneficiaries could see reduced payments across the board.
—Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2025
The new method has clear advantages, including real-time visualization of heat propagation, unprecedented temperature precision, and reliability in extreme conditions where traditional thermography fails.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2025
Sixty-five percent of Republicans and 94% of Democrats agreed that the president does not have the authority to make laws on his own when Congress fails to act.
—Karlyn Bowman, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
If all else fails, there's always good ol' phone calls.
—Emily Forlini, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2025
Finding a supportive community is key, and if all else fails, get offline.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2025
If an insurer fails to meet these requirements, regulators can intervene by implementing corrective measures, restricting operations, or placing the company under supervision.
—True Tamplin, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
Mike Kaye
september 10, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
Alternatively, a star being ripped apart in TDE could produce a day-long GRB, but this scenario fails to replicate other properties of the GRB 250702B, an explosion that would require a very unusual star being destroyed by an even stranger black hole.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Or, if Congress fails to act altogether, beneficiaries could see reduced payments across the board.
—Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2025
The new method has clear advantages, including real-time visualization of heat propagation, unprecedented temperature precision, and reliability in extreme conditions where traditional thermography fails.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2025
Sixty-five percent of Republicans and 94% of Democrats agreed that the president does not have the authority to make laws on his own when Congress fails to act.
—Karlyn Bowman, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
If all else fails, there's always good ol' phone calls.
—Emily Forlini, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2025
Finding a supportive community is key, and if all else fails, get offline.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2025
If an insurer fails to meet these requirements, regulators can intervene by implementing corrective measures, restricting operations, or placing the company under supervision.
—True Tamplin, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fails
Verb
-
If the lipids oxidize after the plant dies, much of the benefit could vanish.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Sep. 2025
-
When a member of Congress dies, flags are lowered on the day of death and the following day.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
If the restructuring collapses, those investors can pull their money—a potentially catastrophic blow for a company planning to burn through $115 billion by 2029.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
9 Sep. 2025
-
East Chicago city cameras appear to show the two men in an argument before Ramirez collapses.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
If this season disappoints, there will be a strong case to be made for an overhaul.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
9 Sep. 2025
-
On the flip side, if macro data disappoints or surprise headline policy shifts introduce more volatility, buyer confidence could take another hit.—
John Walkup,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Any delay in release weakens hatchlings and affects their survival rates.—
M. Rajshekhar,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Beyond 100 people, culture often fragments, communication distorts and the founder’s vision weakens.—
Jonathan Low,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The thing about bullying is that the bully typically has no memory of it later, while the wounded party never forgets.—
Rachel Kushner,
New Yorker,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Dictatorships exhaust themselves through destruction, but democracies adapt and grow stronger—a lesson Washington sometimes forgets.—
Ken Silverstein,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In the finale, Laura crashes Daniel and Cherry’s engagement party, and Cherry is arrested for vandalizing Laura’s gallery.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Authorities have publicly identified four people who lost their lives to separate San Diego County traffic crashes over the last week, two on the same day and one in a hit-and-run.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The survey then gets adjusted to try to capture the parts of the labor market the survey misses.—
Danielle Chemtob,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
But any delays could mean that Wheeler misses a significant chunk of next season.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
As the afterglow of the midyear continental tournaments fades back into seasonal play in global women’s soccer, there’s been a trend of superlative record-breaking, from the youngest professional goal scorers to the most lucrative transfer fees.—
Tamerra Griffin,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
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If an online trend fades or followers are lost, the name tends to lose steam as well.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fails.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fails. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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