fail

The word “fail” has 1 syllable: fail

It's pronounced as /feɪl/


What is synonym and antonym for fail?

In the thesaurus, “fail” has 152 synonyms and 65 antonyms.

Here are synonyms and antonyms for fail along with examples of usage in sentences.


Synonyms for fail

  • abort
  • act up
  • back out
  • back wrong horse
  • backslide
  • be cleaned out
  • be defeated
  • be demoted
  • be found lacking
  • be in arrears
  • be in vain
  • be ruined
  • be taken to the cleaners
  • become insolvent
  • blink
  • blunder
  • bomb
  • break
  • break down
  • chagrin
  • cheat
  • close
  • close down
  • collapse
  • come a cropper
  • come to grief
  • come to naught
  • come to nothing
  • come up empty
  • crash
  • crater
  • crumble
  • cut out
  • decay
  • deceive
  • decline
  • defalcate
  • default
  • degenerate
  • delude
  • desert
  • deteriorate
  • die
  • die on the vine
  • disappoint
  • discontent
  • discount
  • disenchant
  • disgruntle
  • dishonor
  • disillusion
  • displease
  • disregard
  • dissatisfy
  • distress
  • droop
  • drop
  • drop a bundle
  • emaciate
  • end
  • fade
  • fall
  • fall flat
  • fall short
  • fall through
  • fault
  • finish
  • fizzle
  • flag
  • flame out
  • flop
  • flounder
  • flunk
  • fold
  • forget
  • founder
  • funk
  • give out
  • go
  • go astray
  • go bankrupt
  • go belly up
  • go broke
  • go bust
  • go down
  • go down swinging
  • go downhill
  • go into Chapter 11
  • go out of business
  • go to the wall
  • go under
  • go up
  • go up in smoke
  • go wrong
  • hit bottom
  • hit the skids
  • ignore
  • implode
  • jam
  • lag
  • languish
  • lay an egg
  • let down
  • lose big
  • lose control
  • lose out
  • lose status
  • malfunction
  • meet with disaster
  • miscarry
  • misfire
  • miss
  • miss out on
  • miss the boat
  • mock
  • neglect
  • omit
  • overdraw
  • overlook
  • overpass
  • pass over
  • play into
  • pretermit
  • repudiate
  • rot
  • run aground
  • run down
  • sag
  • self-destruct
  • sink
  • skid
  • skip
  • slide
  • slight
  • slip
  • slump
  • sputter
  • stall
  • strike out
  • struggle
  • tank
  • terminate
  • turn out badly
  • upset
  • wane
  • wash out
  • weaken
  • wear out
  • wheeze
  • wilt
  • wither
  • yield

Antonyms for fail

  • accomplish
  • achieve
  • ascend
  • attend
  • begin
  • build
  • capture
  • carry out
  • click
  • come off
  • commence
  • complete
  • content
  • continue
  • convalesce
  • cook
  • correct
  • deliver
  • develop
  • discharge
  • do
  • do well
  • earn
  • execute
  • finish
  • flourish
  • fulfil
  • fulfill
  • gain
  • gladden
  • go
  • go over
  • go up
  • gratify
  • heed
  • keep
  • meet
  • merit
  • mind
  • observe
  • obtain
  • pan out
  • pay attention
  • perform
  • practice
  • practise
  • prevail
  • procure
  • prosper
  • rally
  • reach
  • rebound
  • recover
  • recuperate
  • regard
  • remember
  • respect
  • rise
  • satisfy
  • start
  • succeed
  • thrive
  • triumph
  • win
  • work out

Meanings of fail

  • noun
    1. Poor quality; substandard workmanship.
    2. A failure (condition of being unsuccessful).
    3. A failure (something incapable of success).
    4. A failure, especially of a financial transaction (a termination of an action).
    5. A failing grade in an academic examination.
    6. A piece of turf cut from grassland.
  • verb
    1. To be unsuccessful.
    2. Not to achieve a particular stated goal. (Usage note: The direct object of this word is usually an infinitive.).
    3. To neglect.
    4. Of a machine, etc.: to cease to operate correctly.
    5. To be wanting to, to be insufficient for, to disappoint, to desert.
    6. To receive one or more non-passing grades in academic pursuits.
    7. To give a student a non-passing grade in an academic endeavour.
    8. To miss attaining; to lose.
    9. To be wanting; to fall short; to be or become deficient in any measure or degree up to total absence.
    10. To be affected with want; to come short; to lack; to be deficient or unprovided; used with of.
    11. To fall away; to become diminished; to decline; to decay; to sink.
    12. To deteriorate in respect to vigour, activity, resources, etc.; to become weaker.
    13. To perish; to die; used of a person.
    14. To err in judgment; to be mistaken.
    15. To become unable to meet one's engagements; especially, to be unable to pay one's debts or discharge one's business obligation; to become bankrupt or insolvent.
  • adjective
    1. That is a failure.

Example Sentences

  • Despite his best efforts, he couldn't help but fail the math exam.
  • It's okay to fail sometimes, it's how we learn and grow from our mistakes.
  • The bridge's support structure was insufficient, causing it to fail under the weight of the heavy trucks.
  • The company implemented new strategies to ensure its products would not fail in meeting customers' expectations.
  • The student feared that she would fail to meet the deadline for her research paper, but with perseverance, she managed to complete it on time.

On this page you'll find 217 synonyms, antonyms, or another words to fail, such as: abort, accomplish, achieve, act up, ascend, attend, back out.

Make sure to choose synonyms and antonyms that are appropriate for the context of the sentence.

Related Words

abort

  • abandon
  • abrogate
  • annul
  • arrest
  • break off
  • call
  • call it quits
  • call off
  • cancel
  • check
  • countermand
  • cry off
  • cut off
  • discontinue
  • drop
  • end
  • fail
  • give up
  • halt
  • hold back
  • interrupt
  • invalidate
  • knock it off
  • lay off
  • miscarry
  • nullify
  • recall
  • recant
  • relinquish
  • repeal
  • rescind
  • retract
  • reverse
  • revoke
  • roll back
  • scrap
  • scratch
  • scrub
  • stop
  • surrender
  • suspend
  • take back
  • terminate
  • void
  • withdraw
  • write off

abortion

abortive

abortiveness

  • barrenness
  • bootlessness
  • collapse
  • crash
  • cropper
  • defeat
  • deficiency
  • disappointment
  • emptiness
  • failure
  • fizzle
  • fruitlessness
  • futility
  • hopelessness
  • inadequacy
  • inadequateness
  • inaneness
  • ineffectiveness
  • ineffectuality
  • ineffectualness
  • inefficaciousness
  • inefficacy
  • insufficiency
  • letdown
  • meaninglessness
  • nonachievement
  • nonsuccess
  • otioseness
  • pointlessness
  • senselessness
  • setback
  • unavailingness
  • unprofitability
  • unprofitableness
  • uselessness
  • vanity

absence


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