Synonyms for fail
feɪlfail

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. failverb

   a failure, especially of a financial transaction

   Throughout my life, I have always failed.

   Synonyms:
   fall on ones face

   Antonyms:
   succeed

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. fail

   Synonyms:
   abandon, forfeit, give up, let go, lose, miss

   Antonyms:
   accomplish, achieve, acquire, arrive at, attain, compass, earn, gain, get, grasp, master, obtain, procure, reach, secure, win

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. fail

   Synonyms:
   fall, miss, miscarry, fall short, trip, lose

   Antonyms:
   succeed, exceed, surpass, excel, achieve, abound, yield

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. fail, neglectverb

   fail to do something; leave something undone

   "She failed to notice that her child was no longer in his crib"; "The secretary failed to call the customer and the company lost the account"

   Synonyms:
   go, conk out, give way, overlook, flunk, bomb, betray, leave out, break down, die, omit, neglect, run out, break, overleap, flush it, drop, miscarry, miss, give out, ignore, go wrong, pretermit, disregard, go bad

   Antonyms:
   come through, pass, bring home the bacon, win, negociate, carry off, deliver the goods, make it, succeed, manage, pull off, bring off

2. fail, go wrong, miscarryverb

   be unsuccessful

   "Where do today's public schools fail?"; "The attempt to rescue the hostages failed miserably"

   Synonyms:
   go, conk out, give way, flunk, bomb, betray, break down, die, neglect, run out, break, flush it, miscarry, give out, go wrong, go bad

   Antonyms:
   make it, carry off, win, pass, succeed, pull off, bring home the bacon, negociate, manage, come through, bring off, deliver the goods

3. fail, betrayverb

   disappoint, prove undependable to; abandon, forsake

   "His sense of smell failed him this time"; "His strength finally failed him"; "His children failed him in the crisis"

   Synonyms:
   bomb, betray, stag, conk out, deceive, flunk, miscarry, sell, go bad, bewray, snitch, give way, flush it, lead astray, cheat, shit, give away, grass, neglect, break, wander, give out, shop, go, go wrong, die, run out, break down, denounce, cuckold, tell on, cheat on, rat

   Antonyms:
   deliver the goods, negociate, win, carry off, pass, bring home the bacon, come through, manage, make it, bring off, succeed, pull off

4. fail, go bad, give way, die, give out, conk out, go, break, break downverb

   stop operating or functioning

   "The engine finally went"; "The car died on the road"; "The bus we travelled in broke down on the way to town"; "The coffee maker broke"; "The engine failed on the way to town"; "her eyesight went after the accident"

   Synonyms:
   peter out, function, crumble, give off, perish, break away, give way, unwrap, hold out, run, endure, lead, give out, hand out, split up, conk out, operate, dampen, travel, collapse, last, go wrong, bomb, transgress, discontinue, founder, weaken, go away, crumple, bump, discover, demote, stop, go, take apart, move, damp, ease up, rifle, separate, decompose, miscarry, split, run low, die out, cash in one's chips, dissect, smash, pause, move over, spoil, pass out, pass away, get out, drop dead, fracture, relegate, bring out, violate, reveal, divulge, part, betray, let on, blend in, run short, get around, get going, locomote, intermit, wear out, expire, lose it, check, break dance, break-dance, live, give-up the ghost, kick the bucket, breach, blend, burst, give, plump, crack, ruin, run down, fit, erupt, emit, better, flush it, belong, tumble, offend, go bad, become flat, survive, crush, get, disclose, break off, snuff it, bust, flunk, become, give away, break up, analyse, live on, interrupt, break out, croak, run out, choke, poop out, pop off, pall, sound, fall in, soften, go against, let out, come apart, neglect, extend, start, depart, kick downstairs, distribute, decease, die, pass, proceed, break down, infract, exit, conk, buy the farm, bankrupt, hold up, develop, expose, break, analyze, fall apart, break in, snap off, snap, yield, work, cave in, wear, recrudesce

   Antonyms:
   carry off, come through, succeed, deliver the goods, pass, bring off, bring home the bacon, negociate, make it, manage, pull off, win

5. failverb

   be unable

   "I fail to understand your motives"

   Synonyms:
   betray, die, flunk, neglect, go bad, bomb, go wrong, flush it, conk out, give way, miscarry, break, give out, go, break down, run out

   Antonyms:
   manage, make it, negociate, succeed, carry off, bring off, win, come through, pass, deliver the goods, pull off, bring home the bacon

6. failverb

   judge unacceptable

   "The teacher failed six students"

   Synonyms:
   betray, die, flunk, neglect, go bad, bomb, go wrong, flush it, conk out, give way, miscarry, break, give out, go, break down, run out

   Antonyms:
   pass, manage, succeed, bring off, deliver the goods, win, bring home the bacon, carry off, negociate, pull off, come through, make it

7. fail, flunk, bomb, flush itverb

   fail to get a passing grade

   "She studied hard but failed nevertheless"; "Did I fail the test?"

   Synonyms:
   go, conk out, give way, flunk, bomb, betray, break down, die, neglect, run out, break, flush it, miscarry, give out, go wrong, bombard, go bad

   Antonyms:
   negociate, deliver the goods, bring off, pass, manage, succeed, win, pull off, make it, bring home the bacon, carry off, come through

8. failverb

   fall short in what is expected

   "She failed in her obligations as a good daughter-in-law"; "We must not fail his obligation to the victims of the Holocaust"

   Synonyms:
   betray, die, flunk, neglect, go bad, bomb, go wrong, flush it, conk out, give way, miscarry, break, give out, go, break down, run out

   Antonyms:
   pull off, pass, bring off, win, come through, bring home the bacon, deliver the goods, negociate, succeed, carry off, make it, manage

9. failverb

   become bankrupt or insolvent; fail financially and close

   "The toy company went bankrupt after the competition hired cheap Mexican labor"; "A number of banks failed that year"

   Synonyms:
   betray, die, flunk, neglect, go bad, bomb, go wrong, flush it, conk out, give way, miscarry, break, give out, go, break down, run out

   Antonyms:
   pass, bring off, come through, win, make it, pull off, succeed, manage, carry off, deliver the goods, negociate, bring home the bacon

10. fail, run out, give outverb

    prove insufficient

    "The water supply for the town failed after a long drought"

    Synonyms:
    go, beetle off, conk out, give way, flunk, bomb, betray, peter out, break down, poop out, die, bolt, run down, neglect, run out, drain, break, bolt out, flush it, run off, pass out, miscarry, give off, give out, emit, expire, spill, go wrong, distribute, hand out, go bad

    Antonyms:
    bring home the bacon, manage, pass, carry off, negociate, succeed, win, deliver the goods, pull off, make it, bring off, come through

11. failverb

    get worse

    "Her health is declining"

    Synonyms:
    betray, die, flunk, neglect, go bad, bomb, go wrong, flush it, conk out, give way, miscarry, break, give out, go, break down, run out

    Antonyms:
    deliver the goods, succeed, bring home the bacon, win, manage, negociate, pull off, pass, bring off, come through, make it, carry off

Matched Categories

1. • Decline
   • Judge
   • Let Down

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. failverb

   Synonyms:
   fall short, come short, be insufficient, be deficient, be wanting

2. failverb

   Synonyms:
   decline, sink, decay, wane, fade, give out

3. failverb

   Synonyms:
   cease, disappear, become extinct, be wanting

4. failverb

   Synonyms:
   miss, miscarry, be unsuccessful, be frustrated, end in smoke, come to nothing, fall still-born, flash in the pan, miss fire, miss stays, fall to the ground

5. failverb

   Synonyms:
   omit, neglect

6. failverb

   Synonyms:
   break, become insolvent, become bankrupt, suspend payment

7. failverb

   Synonyms:
   disappoint, be wanting to, not be sufficient for, not answer the expectation of

8. failnoun

   Synonyms:
   [Used only in the expression without fail.] omission, neglect, failure, delinquency

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. failverb

   Synonyms:
   default, lack, deteriorate, decline, retrograde, disappoint, desert, miscarry, foil, become bankrupt

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "fail":

   failure, fails, failed, disappoint, not, miss

Suggested Resources

1. FAIL

   What does FAIL stand for? -- Explore the various meanings for the FAIL acronym on the Abbreviations.com website.

How to pronounce fail?

How to say fail in sign language?

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

1. [["1515","3"],["1520","4"],["1524","1"],["1563","2"],["1564","4"],["1568","1"],["1572","2"],["1574","2"],["1579","5"],["1581","14"],["1582","4"],["1584","2"],["1587","2"],["1590","32"],["1592","3"],["1600","9"],["1607","6"],["1611","1"],["1618","1"],["1620","8"],["1621","1"],["1624","7"],["1626","12"],["1631","1"],["1632","1"],["1634","3"],["1635","8"],["1636","1"],["1637","5"],["1638","1"],["1641","2"],["1642","1"],["1644","21"],["1645","7"],["1647","17"],["1648","29"],["1649","9"],["1650","11"],["1651","8"],["1652","21"],["1653","25"],["1654","2"],["1655","7"],["1656","21"],["1657","7"],["1658","35"],["1659","11"],["1660","8"],["1661","6"],["1662","8"],["1664","9"],["1665","26"],["1666","3"],["1667","35"],["1668","50"],["1669","10"],["1670","43"],["1671","9"],["1672","38"],["1673","39"],["1674","4"],["1675","92"],["1676","109"],["1677","34"],["1678","106"],["1679","31"],["1680","53"],["1681","104"],["1682","96"],["1683","240"],["1684","130"],["1685","181"],["1686","36"],["1687","34"],["1688","120"],["1689","55"],["1690","43"],["1691","12"],["1692","57"],["1693","52"],["1694","178"],["1695","28"],["1696","42"],["1697","34"],["1698","149"],["1699","115"],["1700","223"],["1701","182"],["1702","252"],["1703","291"],["1704","315"],["1705","270"],["1706","410"],["1707","294"],["1708","352"],["1709","192"],["1710","276"],["1711","434"],["1712","228"],["1713","229"],["1714","429"],["1715","285"],["1716","326"],["1717","412"],["1718","262"],["1719","328"],["1720","593"],["1721","325"],["1722","500"],["1723","477"],["1724","396"],["1725","391"],["1726","578"],["1727","732"],["1728","614"],["1729","593"],["1730","513"],["1731","984"],["1732","515"],["1733","379"],["1734","625"],["1735","513"],["1736","412"],["1737","594"],["1738","619"],["1739","488"],["1740","616"],["1741","474"],["1742","857"],["1743","542"],["1744","859"],["1745","498"],["1746","406"],["1747","959"],["1748","704"],["1749","632"],["1750","1165"],["1751","1286"],["1752","884"],["1753","1072"],["1754","1429"],["1755","1198"],["1756","576"],["1757","943"],["1758","1104"],["1759","1738"],["1760","1287"],["1761","1375"],["1762","697"],["1763","1321"],["1764","1205"],["1765","972"],["1766","1690"],["1767","1433"],["1768","1697"],["1769","974"],["1770","1433"],["1771","1309"],["1772","1293"],["1773","1267"],["1774","1397"],["1775","1746"],["1776","1591"],["1777","1504"],["1778","1413"],["1779","2042"],["1780","1369"],["1781","1580"],["1782","1394"],["1783","1525"],["1784","1821"],["1785","2593"],["1786","1727"],["1787","2708"],["1788","2799"],["1789","2347"],["1790","3344"],["1791","2614"],["1792","2764"],["1793","2756"],["1794","3030"],["1795","3452"],["1796","4205"],["1797","3304"],["1798","3454"],["1799","2752"],["1800","4235"],["1801","6734"],["1802","5163"],["1803","5837"],["1804","6647"],["1805","6400"],["1806","6477"],["1807","6582"],["1808","7247"],["1809","7523"],["1810","7185"],["1811","9439"],["1812","9283"],["1813","6623"],["1814","7934"],["1815","7440"],["1816","7190"],["1817","8943"],["1818","9991"],["1819","9368"],["1820","12267"],["1821","9395"],["1822","13227"],["1823","14456"],["1824","16117"],["1825","15913"],["1826","11397"],["1827","12659"],["1828","15159"],["1829","15323"],["1830","17099"],["1831","15370"],["1832","16176"],["1833","16221"],["1834","14642"],["1835","19269"],["1836","19669"],["1837","16976"],["1838","18504"],["1839","20645"],["1840","20180"],["1841","18639"],["1842","17687"],["1843","21146"],["1844","20386"],["1845","22384"],["1846","23666"],["1847","22998"],["1848","22641"],["1849","23681"],["1850","25325"],["1851","27105"],["1852","29489"],["1853","31399"],["1854","34260"],["1855","30359"],["1856","34144"],["1857","28644"],["1858","28032"],["1859","29249"],["1860","30525"],["1861","22613"],["1862","19212"],["1863","20745"],["1864","25802"],["1865","25346"],["1866","27332"],["1867","25828"],["1868","26743"],["1869","26818"],["1870","28406"],["1871","29174"],["1872","27671"],["1873","28787"],["1874","32793"],["1875","31992"],["1876","32650"],["1877","31561"],["1878","30029"],["1879","32308"],["1880","36084"],["1881","37364"],["1882","38938"],["1883","44855"],["1884","43107"],["1885","40996"],["1886","33969"],["1887","36648"],["1888","37597"],["1889","35160"],["1890","37041"],["1891","40208"],["1892","43561"],["1893","41150"],["1894","41231"],["1895","43053"],["1896","46410"],["1897","45724"],["1898","47996"],["1899","54866"],["1900","60411"],["1901","57747"],["1902","58918"],["1903","54673"],["1904","59959"],["1905","55296"],["1906","56145"],["1907","58968"],["1908","59241"],["1909","54673"],["1910","56395"],["1911","56267"],["1912","59185"],["1913","56552"],["1914","55641"],["1915","51024"],["1916","48773"],["1917","51368"],["1918","44520"],["1919","48180"],["1920","56944"],["1921","48517"],["1922","57504"],["1923","45431"],["1924","43098"],["1925","43609"],["1926","41261"],["1927","46274"],["1928","46631"],["1929","43799"],["1930","45239"],["1931","43055"],["1932","38874"],["1933","32586"],["1934","38005"],["1935","40082"],["1936","42065"],["1937","42650"],["1938","43603"],["1939","44006"],["1940","40345"],["1941","37531"],["1942","36050"],["1943","30333"],["1944","27588"],["1945","32617"],["1946","41295"],["1947","47855"],["1948","49976"],["1949","54302"],["1950","55228"],["1951","52447"],["1952","52282"],["1953","50828"],["1954","52358"],["1955","54595"],["1956","56551"],["1957","60935"],["1958","60766"],["1959","61764"],["1960","71855"],["1961","78765"],["1962","85527"],["1963","90178"],["1964","88884"],["1965","104256"],["1966","105901"],["1967","111076"],["1968","124770"],["1969","123382"],["1970","127758"],["1971","126175"],["1972","128918"],["1973","121523"],["1974","118062"],["1975","120517"],["1976","120794"],["1977","126881"],["1978","124163"],["1979","127612"],["1980","130143"],["1981","130851"],["1982","138225"],["1983","140697"],["1984","150454"],["1985","153765"],["1986","168104"],["1987","168538"],["1988","176609"],["1989","185440"],["1990","203319"],["1991","196281"],["1992","215207"],["1993","217096"],["1994","231016"],["1995","239430"],["1996","253703"],["1997","260781"],["1998","275613"],["1999","295078"],["2000","327068"],["2001","338552"],["2002","369078"],["2003","415413"],["2004","448949"],["2005","435980"],["2006","478363"],["2007","509898"],["2008","700660"]]

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use fail in a sentence?

1. Sir Winston Churchill, Radio speech, 1941:

   Here is the answer which I will give to President Roosevelt... We shall not fail or falter; we shall not weaken or tire. Neither the sudden shock of battle nor the long-drawn trials of vigilance and exertion will wear us down. Give us the tools and we will finish the job.

2. Hassan Rouhani:

   The crisis in Yemen should be resolved through political channels...A military approach will fail...Yemen's stability and security is important for the Middle East.

3. Joseph Sugarman:

   Not many people are willing to give failure a second opportunity. They fail once and it is all over. The bitter pill of failure is often more than most people can handle. If you are willing to accept failure and learn from it, if you are willing to consider failure as a blessing in disguise and bounce back, you have got the essential of harnessing one of the most powerful success forces.

4. Rob Malley:

   We can't forget them, anything that happens on the nuclear side, whether we succeed or fail, our goal is going to be to get them back home.

5. A. E. Hotchner:

   Of course we all have our limits, but how can you possibly find your boundaries unless you explore as far and as wide as you possibly can I would rather fail in an attempt at something new and uncharted than safely succeed in a repeat of something I have done.