Failed — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective /ˈfāl/

Meaning & Definition of Failed

Failed (verb)

  1. to lose strength, weaken
  2. to fade or die away
  3. to stop functioning normally

Failed (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in unsuccessful

    similar: unsuccessful, futureless, hopeless, inauspicious, no-good, unpromising, collapsing, failing, flopping, flunking, folding, washing-out, declining, slipping, slumping, waning, bankrupt, kaput, kerflooey, destroyed, ruined, wrecked
    opposite: flourishing, going, palmy, prosperous, successful, thriving, triumphant, coming, promising, booming, growing, roaring, robust

  2. as in inadequate, disappointing

    similar: deficient, disappointing, inadequate, inferior, atrocious, execrable, vile, wretched, average, normal, ordinary, representative, typical, bad, low-grade, poor, substandard, unsatisfactory, mediocre, second-class, second-rate
    opposite: archetypal, classic, definitive, exemplary, imitable, model, paradigmatic, quintessential, textbook, ideal, nonpareil, special, unique, absolute, flawless, impeccable, perfect

Failed (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to stop functioning

    "my car failed just as I was about to head to work"

    similar: broke, broke down, conked (out), crashed, cut out, died, gave out, stalled
    related: fizzled, sputtered, wheezed, acted up, malfunctioned, jammed
    opposite: started (up)

  2. to be unsuccessful

    "despite all the publicity, the movie failed miserably at the box office"

    similar: bombed, collapsed, cratered, flamed out, flopped, flunked, folded, foundered, missed, struck out, tanked, washed out, came a cropper, came to grief, came up empty, died on the vine, fell flat, fell on one's face, fell short, laid an egg
    related: floundered, struggled, declined, sank, skidded, slipped, slumped, waned, crashed, crumbled, miscarried, misfired, went under, imploded, self-destructed
    opposite: came off, clicked, delivered, panned out, succeeded, went, went over, worked out
    near: cooked, flourished, prospered, thrived, prevailed, triumphed, won

  3. to fall short in satisfying the expectation or hope of

    "although the minor-league franchise continues to fail local fans, hope springs eternal"

    similar: cheated, disappointed, dissatisfied, let down
    related: bummed (out), chagrined, discontented, disgruntled, displeased, distressed, upset, disenchanted, disillusioned, deceived, deluded, mocked
    opposite: contented, gratified, satisfied
    near: fulfilled, gladdened

  4. to lose bodily strength or vigor

    "ever since she reached the age of 90, Grandma has been noticeably failing"

    similar: decayed, drooped, emaciated, faded, flagged, lagged, languished, sagged, sank, wasted (away), weakened, went, wilted, withered
    related: broke down, wore out, yielded, degenerated, deteriorated, ran down, rotted
    near: convalesced, rallied, rebounded, recovered, recuperated, gained

  5. to miss the opportunity or obligation

    "failed to mention that he was looking for new job"

    similar: forgot, neglected, omitted, missed out on
    related: disregarded, ignored, overlooked, overpassed, passed over, pretermitted, slighted, slid, slipped, defaulted, skipped
    near: heeded, minded, remembered, kept, observed, carried out, did, executed, performed, practiced, discharged, fulfilled, met, satisfied, complied (with)

Related Entry: Fail (verb)

Fail is a different word from Failed. The synonyms below are for fail, not for failed.

  1. to stop functioning

    "my car failed just as I was about to head to work"

    similar: break, break down, conk (out), crash, cut out, die, give out, stall
    related: fizzle, sputter, wheeze, act up, malfunction, jam
    opposite: start (up)

  2. to be unsuccessful

    "despite all the publicity, the movie failed miserably at the box office"

    similar: bomb, collapse, crater, flame out, flop, flunk, fold, founder, miss, strike out, tank, wash out, come a cropper, come to grief, come up empty, die on the vine, fall flat, fall on one's face, fall short, lay an egg
    related: flounder, struggle, decline, sink, skid, slip, slump, wane, crash, crumble, miscarry, misfire, go under, implode, self-destruct
    opposite: click, come off, deliver, go, go over, pan out, succeed, work out
    near: cook, flourish, prosper, thrive, prevail, triumph, win

  3. to fall short in satisfying the expectation or hope of

    "although the minor-league franchise continues to fail local fans, hope springs eternal"

    similar: cheat, disappoint, dissatisfy, let down
    related: bum (out), chagrin, discontent, disgruntle, displease, distress, upset, disenchant, disillusion, deceive, delude, mock
    opposite: content, gratify, satisfy
    near: fulfill, gladden

  4. to lose bodily strength or vigor

    "ever since she reached the age of 90, Grandma has been noticeably failing"

    similar: decay, droop, emaciate, fade, flag, go, lag, languish, sag, sink, waste (away), weaken, wilt, wither
    related: break down, wear out, yield, degenerate, deteriorate, rot, run down
    near: convalesce, rally, rebound, recover, recuperate, gain

  5. to miss the opportunity or obligation

    "failed to mention that he was looking for new job"

    similar: forget, neglect, omit, miss out on
    related: disregard, ignore, overlook, overpass, pass over, pretermit, slight, slide, slip, default, skip
    near: heed, mind, remember, keep, observe, carry out, do, execute, perform, practice, discharge, fulfill, meet, satisfy, comply (with)

Related Entry: Failed (at) (verb)

Failed (at) is a different word from Failed. The synonyms below are for failed (at), not for failed.

  1. as in lost, missed

    similar: fell short (of), missed, lost
    opposite: achieved, attained, bagged, chalked up, clocked (up) (chiefly British), gained, hit, logged, made, notched (up), racked up, rang up, scored, won, acquired, captured, carried, drew, garnered, got, landed, obtained, procured, realized, secured, amounted (to), approached, equaled, matched, measured up (to), met, rivaled, tied, touched

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Failed

The most common words with a similar meaning to Failed:

unsuccessful, futureless, hopeless, inauspicious, no-good, unpromising, collapsing, failing, flopping, flunking, folding, washing-out, declining, slipping, slumping, waning, bankrupt, kaput, kerflooey, destroyed, ruined, wrecked, deficient, disappointing, inadequate, inferior, atrocious, execrable, vile, wretched, average, normal, ordinary, representative, typical, bad, low-grade, poor, substandard, unsatisfactory

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Failed

Words with the opposite meaning of Failed:

flourishing, going, palmy, prosperous, successful, thriving, triumphant, coming, promising, booming, growing, roaring, robust, archetypal, classic, definitive, exemplary, imitable, model, paradigmatic, quintessential, textbook, ideal, nonpareil, special, unique, absolute, flawless, impeccable, perfect

Related Words for Failed

fizzled, sputtered, wheezed, acted up, malfunctioned, jammed, floundered, struggled, declined, skidded, slipped, slumped, waned, crumbled, miscarried, misfired, went under, imploded, self-destructed, bummed (out), chagrined, discontented, disgruntled, displeased, distressed, upset, disenchanted, disillusioned, deceived, deluded

Near Antonyms of Failed

cooked, flourished, prospered, thrived, prevailed, triumphed, won, fulfilled, gladdened, convalesced, rallied, rebounded, recovered, recuperated, gained, heeded, minded, remembered, kept, observed, carried out, did, executed, performed, practiced, discharged, met, complied (with)

Word Forms of Failed

Inflections: failing, fails

Derived words: failingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Failed

Middle English failen, from Anglo-French faillir, from Vulgar Latin *fallire, alteration of Latin fallere to deceive, disappoint

First known use: 13th centuryi

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Failed

Frequently Asked Questions about Failed

What does "Failed" mean?

"Failed" means to lose strength, weaken. As an a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: to lose strength, weaken. It has 7 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Failed"?

Other words for "Failed" include unsuccessful, futureless, hopeless, inauspicious, no-good, unpromising, collapsing and failing. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Failed" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Failed"?

There are 140 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Failed". Common alternatives include unsuccessful, futureless, hopeless, inauspicious, no-good, unpromising, collapsing, failing, flopping and flunking.

What is the opposite of "Failed"?

Antonyms of "Failed" include flourishing, going, palmy, prosperous, successful, thriving, triumphant and coming. Near antonyms include cooked, flourished, prospered and thrived.

How do you use "Failed" in a sentence?

Examples of "Failed" in a sentence: "my car failed just as I was about to head to work"; "despite all the publicity, the movie failed miserably at the box office"; "although the minor-league franchise continues to fail local fans, hope springs eternal".

Is "Failed" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Failed" can be used as a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Failed" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Failed" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Failed"?

"Failed" is pronounced /ˈfāl/.