fall short

ADJECTIVE

go without

Synonyms

WEAK

abstain be deprived of do without go short lack need want

Antonyms

WEAK

earn get indulge take use

VERB

fail

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 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

flop

Synonyms

STRONGEST

come apart fall flat fold misfire

STRONG

bomb close flummox founder miscarry

WEAK

come to nothing wash out

Antonyms

STRONG

succeed

WEAK

accomplish achieve

VERB

let down

Synonyms

WEAK

abandon depress disenchant disillusion dissatisfy fail leave in lurch leave stranded lower pull down take down underwhelm

Antonyms

WEAK

benefit satisfy

VERB

lose

Synonyms

STRONGEST

drop fail forget give up squander suffer surrender waste

STRONG

bereave capitulate consume default deplete disinherit displace dispossess dissipate divest drain exhaust expend forfeit lavish misplace miss misspend oust relinquish rob sacrifice yield

WEAK

be careless be impoverished be reduced become poorer fail to keep pass up suffer loss use up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

fight hoard save win

STRONG

accumulate collect fill gather give hold keep refuse starve take

WEAK

achieve confront face hold on to maintain meet succeed

VERB

miscarry

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abort fall through

STRONG

backslide blunder decline deteriorate fall fizzle flop flounder fold founder misfire miss

WEAK

back wrong horse be defeated be demoted be found lacking be in vain be ruined break down come to naught come to nothing fall flat 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 fire miss the boat miss the mark play into run aground turn out badly

Antonyms

STRONG

accomplish achieve ascend build correct develop do well go up improve rise succeed

VERB

misfire

Synonyms

STRONGEST

backfire fall flat fizzle flop

STRONG

abort blunder explode flounder miscarry miss slip

WEAK

break down come to nothing fizz out fizzle out go up in smoke go wrong peter out poop out

Antonyms

STRONG

correct do well succeed

VERB

miss

Synonyms

STRONG

blow blunder botch disregard drop err flub forget fumble ignore juggle lose miscarry misfire mislay misplace muff neglect omit overlook overshoot skip slight slip trip undershoot

WEAK

be late for drop the ball fall flat on face let go let slip pass over pass up trip up

Antonyms

STRONG

accomplish achieve attend correct do do well face find fix heed keep look at meet note notice pay attention regard remember respect succeed

VERB

shrink

Synonyms

STRONGEST

decrease diminish drop off dwindle fall off lessen narrow reduce shorten shrivel wane weaken wither

STRONG

compress concentrate condense constrict contract deflate fail waste wrinkle

WEAK

grow smaller waste away

Antonyms

STRONGEST

develop enlarge expand extend grow increase lengthen raise rise strengthen

STRONG

blow up loosen stretch

WEAK

face meet take on

VERB

wane

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abate atrophy decrease die down die out dim dwindle ebb fade peter out shrink slacken subside taper off weaken wither

STRONG

decline drop fail fall moderate relent sink

WEAK

die away draw to a close ease off fade away let up slack off waste away wind down

Antonyms

STRONGEST

brighten develop enhance enlarge expand extend grow increase rise strengthen

STRONG

ascend go up reach win

WEAK

raise

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.

See Examples For:

fall short

For those who fall short, their immigrant backgrounds allow them to play for other countries.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026

The United States has also seen a rise in measles cases in recent years, and children under five in both countries fall short of the 95% vaccination threshold needed for herd immunity.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

However the multinational bank also believes that a potential offering from Charter and SpaceX would fall short of supplanting any of the major cellular service providers in the U.S.

From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026

And several EV startups have aimed for the sky only to fall short: Just look at electric-truck makers Nikola and Fisker, which went bankrupt in 2024.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 24, 2026

“I’m not judgmental. I’m just an excellent judge of character. You fall short in that department.”

From "Pride" by Ibi Zoboi

fall short

Example Sentences

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