1
as in to die
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 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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fail
Some of Miami’s 23 turnovers were a function of OKC’s attacking defense, but others were simply careless, including an over-and-back violation by Jaime Jaquez; Dru Smith and Pelle Larsson passes to nobody in particular; and Bam Adebayo failing to grab a catchable pass that sailed out of bounds.
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Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
The 2026 awards show censors failed to completely bleep out an F-bomb during Sunday's live show.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Jan. 2026
The whole school system has failed, from the sports to the executives.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 11 Jan. 2026
McDavid, Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins failed on their shootout attempts for the Oilers.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fail
Verb
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By 1971, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, and Brian Jones had all died at the age of twenty-seven from drugs and alcohol.—
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This year's awards season promises to deliver more inspiration, but in the meantime, do yourself a favor an invest in a quality round brush, some styling gel or pomade, and a ride-or-die can of hairspray.—
Verb
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The activity periodically forms a dome over the main vent, which eventually collapses, causing an eruption.—
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McDearmond knew without Hannah's help, the criminal case against Brian would likely collapse.—
Verb
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The Golden Globes, famously known as the wildest show during the awards circuit, didn't disappoint this year.—
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While encircled outside his locker Saturday, disappointed in the result but proud of his team’s effort, Coker answered questions about his career game.—
Verb
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Evergreen branches bent under the weight of snow are already weakened; sweeping down the length of the branch toward the ground adds to the stress and increases the potential for breakage.—
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These policies impose devastating costs on American citizens, weakening our economy, increasing the national debt, straining public budgets and tearing families apart.—
Verb
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Don't forget to dust and clean the top of the appliance.—
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Prep & Savour Heavy-Duty Kitchenware Pan Divider Don’t forget to tackle your kitchen clutter this year.—
Verb
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The video ends with the sound of the SUV crashing into a parked car.—
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Her vehicle accelerated down the road, crashing into parked cars nearby.—
Verb
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The reason for the different numbers of missing and rescued given by police and Archival was not immediately clear.—
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Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.—
Verb
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The California Association of Realtors also predicts that, as economic uncertainty fades and rates begin to decline more steadily, the housing market should improve throughout 2026.—
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As human activity and food waste returned, those differences appeared to fade in later generations.—
Cite this Entry
“Fail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fail. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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