failings

NOUN

lapse, shortcoming

Synonyms

STRONGEST

defect deficiency drawback error failure fault flaw foible frailty imperfection weakness

STRONG

infirmity miscarriage misfortune vice

WEAK

blind spot weak point

Antonyms

STRONGEST

advantage benefit perfection strength

WEAK

strong point

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.

Ten years ago, Peter Cipriano, a graduate student at Baruch College, wrote his master’s thesis about one of New York City’s most tortured civic failings: its inability to fix Penn Station.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 13, 2026

Or is he a scapegoat for the failings of California firefighters?

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

Alex and André said someone from the Crown Prosecution Service had leaked a letter to them which revealed a series of failings, meaning opportunities were missed to stop Napper earlier.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

Florida fired a new broadside in a growing rebellion against alleged safety failings of artificial-intelligence chatbots, becoming the first state to file a lawsuit against OpenAI and its chief executive, Sam Altman.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026

Holmes later said of Pitezel, “he was too valuable a man, even with his failings taken into consideration, for me to dispense with.”

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson