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Definitions

fail

[feyl] / feɪl /

VERB

be unsuccessful

Synonyms

STRONGEST

break down decline fall

STRONG

abort backslide blunder deteriorate fizzle flop flounder fold founder miscarry miss slip

WEAK

back wrong horse be defeated be demoted be found lacking be in vain be ruined come to naught come to nothing fall flat fall short fall through go astray go down go down swinging go downhill go up in smoke go wrong hit bottom hit the skids lose control lose out lose status meet with disaster miss the boat play into run aground turn out badly

Antonyms

STRONGEST

ascend go up rise

STRONG

accomplish achieve build correct develop do well succeed

WEAK

capture complete deliver earn finish gain merit obtain procure prosper reach win

VERB

abandon, forsake

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ignore neglect

STRONG

abort blink desert disappoint discount disregard fault forget funk miscarry omit overlook slight slip

WEAK

back out break one's word go astray let down overpass

Antonyms

STRONG

attend pay attention regard remember respect

WEAK

accomplish achieve capture complete deliver earn finish gain merit obtain procure prosper reach succeed win

VERB

lose money

Synonyms

STRONGEST

break close drop end finish

STRONG

crash defalcate default dishonor fold overdraw repudiate terminate

WEAK

be cleaned out be in arrears be ruined be taken to the cleaners become insolvent close down close one's doors drop a bundle go bankrupt go belly up go broke go bust go into Chapter 11 go out of business go to the wall go under go up lose big lose one's shirt

Antonyms

STRONGEST

begin commence continue start

WEAK

accomplish achieve capture complete deliver earn gain merit obtain procure prosper reach succeed win

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Letting this thing just fail and blow up is unacceptable to us," Covey said.

From BBC • May 25, 2026

Near the start of that period the Greeks saw the Persians, rulers of a vast empire, overreach themselves and fail in two invasions of Europe, the second time catastrophically.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026

“If the tank is going to fail, you want it to fail through a crack rather than fail through an explosion,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 24, 2026

On Friday, authorities described the tank exploding or rupturing as the only possible outcomes, but on Saturday Covey said: "Letting this thing just fail and blow up is unacceptable."

From Barron's • May 23, 2026

They are very clever, but I still believe they will fail.

From "The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra's Needle" by Dan Gutman

fail

Example Sentences

Related Words