fail

verb

ˈfāl How to pronounce fail (audio)
Definition of failnext
1
as in to die
to stop functioning my car failed just as I was about to head to work

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2
as in to collapse
to be unsuccessful despite all the publicity, the movie failed miserably at the box office

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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

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4
as in to weaken
to lose bodily strength or vigor ever since she reached the age of 90, Grandma has been noticeably failing

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5
as in to forget
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

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 National Socialism failed miserably in Adolf Hitler’s National Socialist (Nazi) Germany. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026 In a recent study of the happiest states in the country, the Golden State failed to make the top 10 or event the top 20. — Tania Azhang, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026 The future is uncertain for Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott, who both failed to make new head coach Andoni Iraola’s 20-man squad for that season opener at St James’ Park. — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 The lawsuit claims Wendy's was negligent, sold an unsafe food product and failed to meet its legal obligation to serve food that was safe to eat. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fail
  1. die
  2. collapse
  3. disappoint
  4. weaken
  5. forget
  6. crash
  7. miss
  8. fade
Verb
  • Carlile remembered the Country Music Hall of Fame member, who died Tuesday at 80 after a brief battle with cancer, in a social media post.
    — Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Dolly Parton, the undisputed queen of country music, died on Tuesday, August 25.
    — Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of die
Verb
  • Sunny Patel’s father, Jitendra (ph), traveled to the region from New York for a spiritual retreat, crossing the border into Tibet to start the trek when the glacier collapsed.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Scientists who studied satellite images said bedrock underneath a glacier high in the Himalayan region had collapsed, taking part of the glacier with it.
    — Victoria Milko, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of collapse
Verb
  • Warsh promises 'quieter Fed' Investors were disappointed last month when Warsh promised to restore price stability but refused to offer a detailed roadmap.
    — Scott Horsley, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Autodesk – The maker of 3D design software slid 5% after its earnings projections disappointed Wall Street.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of disappoint
Verb
  • Even if Korea can maintain 2% economic growth over the next two decades, consumption growth gradually weakens and eventually turns negative, according to Goldman’s long-term modeling.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Riggs said the Teamsters’ safety argument is weakened by the inconsistent safety record of human truck drivers, who have fallen asleep at the wheel or driven while distracted or otherwise impaired.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of weaken
Verb
  • Country queen and national treasure Dolly Parton may have physically left the world on Tuesday, but her indelible mark on the world and the industry will never be forgotten.
    — Isabelle Farina, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The Benedict Canyon property is an important part of the novel that has already been forgotten here.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of forget
Verb
  • Experts said it was most likely caused by a partial glacier collapse that sent tons of ice and rock crashing down into the valley below, setting off a powerful landslide.
    — Jennifer Jett, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Chinese surveillance footage from the Tibetan side of the border shows a huge wall of mud and debris crashing over buildings and engulfing roads as people desperately try to flee the torrent.
    — Diaa Hadid, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of crash
Verb
  • Wilson was back on the practice field Sunday, despite missing much of training camp with an injury, and will likely open the season as Seattle’s third-string running back.
    — Andrew Destin, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The death toll in last week’s devastating flooding in Nepal has risen to 903 people, officials said Monday, as the number of those listed as missing nearly doubled to 4,247.
    — Rudy Chinchilla, NBC news, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of miss
Verb
  • Bitcoin has been in a prolonged slump since October, and BTIG noted that a similar surge in January 2023 initially faded before the cryptocurrency found support around its 200-day moving average.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The crimson hue that may have been visible at the height of the eclipse will gradually fade as the crescent of the lunar disk exposed to direct sunlight grows, and normality reasserts itself over the natural satellite.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of fade

Browse Nearby Words

fags
fail
fail (at)
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Cite this Entry

“Fail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fail. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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