failed 1 of 2

failed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of fail
1
as in died
to stop functioning my car failed just as I was about to head to work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
as in disappointed
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
5

Examples 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 failed
Verb
Prosecutors in the lawsuit alleged that the company failed to implement a price accuracy policy ordered by a court in 2014. Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2024 Now the archetype of extractive fast fashion practices, SHEIN failed to incur any points whatsoever for key areas that support nature and biodiversity including soil health, water quality and protecting key species. Amy Nguyen, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024 Letters from Private Isaac Walters of the 20th Indiana Infantry’s Company F to his sister-in-law describe sick and injured soldiers sent from Virginia to Indiana to vote days before the presidential election after the state failed to enact absentee voting. Roger Catlin, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Oct. 2024 Republican lawmakers have in recent years introduced several bills that would limit a governor or municipality's power to impose restrictions during emergencies, but those have largely failed to gain enough support to become law. Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 4 Oct. 2024 For many people, that shot solidified the Joker as a concept who spoke to their own frustrations with the very same kind of systems that failed Arthur. Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge, 4 Oct. 2024 The 100% default had come into play when someone failed to respond to notices from Social Security and the demand for repayment. Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 4 Oct. 2024 That similar proposal to charge a 2% fine on every fee related to a criminal case and civil traffic violations failed to win majority support in the Senate in 2022 and thus did not appear on the ballot. Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 4 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for failed
Adjective
  • In his unsuccessful 2020 race, Trump garnered almost 13,000 votes.
    Darcie Moran, Detroit Free Press, 20 Nov. 2024
  • Riley's mother began to get worried, and phone records show that many of Riley's family members attempted to reach her but were unsuccessful.
    Charmaine Patterson, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • In April, Inspector General Christi Grimm defended her office’s work in congressional testimony but also asserted that its resources are inadequate.
    Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 13 Nov. 2024
  • Acero said in a statement to the Tribune that the schools are closing due to insufficient funding, a lack of enrollment and inadequate spaces to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
    Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Helene has wreaked havoc on Zara's neighborhood and the wider county, where at least 72 people have died.
    Morgan Norwood, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2024
  • Reach out to Social Security and alert them that your spouse has died.
    Next Avenue, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Four years after the radio telescope at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico collapsed, a report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine is shining a light on the unprecedented failures that caused its destruction.
    Nicole Acevedo, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
  • The frantic scene after an aluminum gangway collapsed Saturday at a boat dock on a Georgia barrier island capped what was supposed to have been a day of celebration, an annual festival spotlighting the culture and history of Sapelo Island's tiny Gullah-Geechee community of Black slave descendants.
    CBS News, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • In a statement posted on the prime minister’s office website, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said he was disappointed and saddened by the case.
    Reuters, NBC News, 4 Oct. 2024
  • The third quarter disappointed some expectations by not coming in with a bang of new inventory.
    Frederick Peters, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • The yen weakened in its largest single-day decline since June 2022.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2024
  • The yen remained weakened after Ishiba downplayed the prospect of imminent interest rate hikes earlier this week.
    Ian Mount, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • And yet uncovering the history of slavery is important, especially when so many Latin American families hid or intentionally forgot their African and Indigenous roots.
    Edward Rueda, NBC News, 29 Sep. 2024
  • Neither Butkus nor Rose ever forgot their Chicago roots.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 29 Sep. 2024
Adjective
  • Super Bowl hangover continues The San Francisco 49ers suffered another disappointing loss on Sunday as Seattle Seahawks QB Geno Smith scampered in for a game-winning touchdown with 12 seconds left.
    Andy Scholes, CNN, 21 Nov. 2024
  • This morning, Target is out with disappointing numbers.
    JJ Kinahan, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near failed

Cite this Entry

“Failed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/failed. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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