FALLS SHORT Synonyms: 56 Similar and Opposite Words

falls short

phrase

present tense third-person singular of fall short

as in fails

to be unsuccessful The movie fell short of its viewers' expectations.

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as in falls flat

to go wrong The biography falls short by neglecting to explore the subject's faults as well as his virtues.

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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 falls short Make sure any profit from future sales will be enough to cover your financing costs — including interest and fees — even if demand falls short of your expectations. — Carson Brunson, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026 That is where so much of the current AI conversation still falls short. — Glenn Llopis, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 An insurance deal falls short of promises Kennedy again took to the HHS stage in June 2025, this time with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz, to make what was billed as a game-changing announcement. — Stephanie Armour, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 Max Meizlish, a former Treasury official and research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said outright that Monday’s announcement falls short of the objective. — Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 24 Aug. 2026 The agreement falls short of the entertainment industry’s goal of a full exemption from a $5 million annual cap on corporate tax credits, according to multiple sources. — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 18 Aug. 2026 But Hastings argued that getting too close makes employees feel protected, even when their performance falls short. — Preston Fore, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2026 Boston’s 4-star designation falls short of the highest 5-star welcoming rating for immigrant inclusion. — Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 17 Aug. 2026 Why fiber matters and juice falls short The biggest catch with juice is what’s missing. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson july 21, Sacbee.com, 21 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for falls short

falls flat

Phrase

The overly matchy look combined with the heaviness of the red-toned stain on cherry wood looks tired and falls flat design-wise.

— Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Aug. 2026
On the downside, the Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy) isn’t fleshed out enough and the chemistry between Bale and Katie Holmes, as an assistant DA and the childhood friend of Bruce’s, falls flat.

— Randy Myers, Mercury News, 14 July 2026

Definition of falls flat

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falls out

falls short

falls short (of)

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“Falls short.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/falls%20short. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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