failures

NOUN

lack of success

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bankruptcy breakdown collapse decline defeat deficiency deterioration failing loss misstep

STRONG

abortion bomb botch bungle bust checkmate decay deficit downfall fiasco flop frustration implosion inadequacy lemon loser mess misadventure miscarriage nonperformance overthrow rout rupture stalemate stoppage turkey washout wreck

WEAK

false step faux pas flash in the pan lead balloon nonsuccess sinking ship total loss

Antonyms

STRONGEST

betterment improvement increase rise success win

STRONG

accomplishment benefit blessing continuation enough plenty triumph

WEAK

achievement achiever attainment earnings gain merit

NOUN

person who does not succeed

Synonyms

STRONGEST

disappointment

STRONG

also-ran bankrupt beat bum castaway deadbeat defaulter derelict dud flop good-for-nothing has-been incompetent insolvent loafer loser might-have-been moocher nobody prodigal turkey underachiever washout

WEAK

born loser lumpy no-good nonperformer

Antonyms

STRONG

hard worker success

WEAK

accomplishment achievement achiever attainment earnings gain merit 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.

Six years after its founding, SpaceX launched its first rocket into orbit after multiple failures, taking off in September 2008 from a remote archipelago in the Pacific Ocean.

From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026

Under the UFC Whereabouts Policy, the three failures constituted an anti-doping violation equivalent to a failed drug test.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 12, 2026

In a report published on Friday, the public accounts committee said its findings were "disturbing" and government was "at considerable risk of repeating past failures" as it tried to tackle the problems.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

The agency assessed far more penalties on missteps including failures to file and pay, though it collected slightly less on owed assessments.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 5, 2026

Yet some of the world’s failures to domesticate wild plants remain hard to explain.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond