Synonyms of failure

failure

noun

ˈfāl-yər 

1

as in negligence

the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action

your failure to check the batteries in the smoke detector could have tragic results

Synonyms & Similar Words

• negligence
• neglect
• default
• oversight
• delinquency
• nonfeasance
• carelessness
• misprision
• dereliction
• inadvertence
• laxity
• inadvertency
• heedlessness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• compliance
• discharge
• fulfillment

2

as in defeat

a falling short of one's goals

the failure of the school's fund-raising drive was a big disappointment to all

Synonyms & Similar Words

• defeat
• collapse
• crash
• setback
• disappointment
• deficiency
• cropper
• futility
• fizzle
• nonachievement
• ineffectiveness
• nonsuccess
• uselessness
• inadequacy
• ineffectuality
• inefficacy
• insufficiency
• ineffectualness
• letdown
• inadequateness
• inefficaciousness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• success
• achievement
• accomplishment
• victory
• win

3

as in disaster

something that has failed

the students' first attempt to build a homemade rocket was a disappointing failure

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disaster
• catastrophe
• disappointment
• loser
• fiasco
• bust
• miss
• bomb
• debacle
• flop
• washout
• shipwreck
• mess
• frost
• dud
• fizzle
• lemon
• clinker
• clunker
• bummer
• has-been
• turkey
• botch
• dog
• hash
• shambles
• also-ran
• near miss
• nonevent
• nonstarter
• muddle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• success
• hit
• winner
• blockbuster
• smash
• phenomenon
• crackerjack
• corker
• dandy
• jim-dandy

4

as in shortage

a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number

the failure of the potato crop had a devastating effect on the population of Ireland

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shortage
• lack
• deficiency
• inadequacy
• deficit
• absence
• insufficiency
• scarcity
• drought
• paucity
• poverty
• famine
• inadequateness
• crunch
• dearth
• omission
• lacuna
• scantiness
• undersupply
• pinch
• scarceness
• want
• necessity
• privation
• need
• meagerness
• poorness
• skimpiness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• adequacy
• sufficiency
• abundance
• amplitude
• wealth
• plenty
• opulence
• plenitude
• excess
• surplus
• oversupply
• overabundance
• surfeit
• bountifulness
• copiousness

5

as in bankruptcy

the inability to pay one's debts

years of prolonged economic depression, when business failures were common

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bankruptcy
• ruin
• insolvency
• Chapter 11

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of failure

And the final crucial failure was being unable to keep that band together. — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026

In both cases, the media played a critical role in shaping public opinion by framing, by omission, by repetition of official talking points, and by an overall failure to include dissenting voices or the perspectives of those most impacted. — Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026

The settlement resolves the lawsuit that also claims that Leonard faced a hostile work environment, retaliation and a failure to accommodate her disability. — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2026

Stress-Test Failure Scenarios Rehearse failure before a customer ever finds it. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026