failing
1 of 2noun
fail·ing ˈfā-liŋ 
: a usually slight or insignificant defect in character, conduct, or ability
failing
2 of 2preposition
: in absence or default of
failing specific instructions, use your own judgment
Synonyms
Noun
- demerit
- dereliction
- fault
- foible
- frailty
- shortcoming
- sin
- vice
- want
- weakness
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun He has some minor failings. we could talk about your failings, but it would take all night Preposition Failing progress in the peace process, war seems likely.
Recent Examples on the Web
Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 29 Aug. 2022 After more than a year of trying — and failing — to pack much of President Biden’s domestic agenda into a single tax-and-spend bill, Democrats appear to have finally found a workable combination. Jim Tankersley, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Aug. 2022 After more than a year of trying — and failing — to pack much of President Biden’s domestic agenda into a single tax-and-spend bill, Democrats appear to have finally found a winning combination. New York Times, 2 Aug. 2022 As a new feature, its biggest failing is how many games don't show up on Play Now. Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, 12 Aug. 2022 To Murphy Westwood, the vice president for science and conservation at the Morton Arboretum in Illinois, each loss feels like a moral failing. Sarah Kaplan, Anchorage Daily News, 14 July 2022 Our culture finds mental illness distasteful, unfortunate, a moral failing. Ahreaume, Longreads, 19 Aug. 2019 Extra weight is often considered a personal failing, but lots of factors beyond an individual's power contribute to weight gain, including food deserts, the cost of healthy food, stress and prejudice. Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 26 July 2022 The Beef, full name: The Original Beef of Chicagoland, is a mess, its finances in arrears, equipment failing, drug dealers scaring off customers. Christina Tkacik, Baltimore Sun, 12 July 2022 See More
Noun
Texas Tech has 'disturbing pattern' after losing third women's coach in under two years Obesity was long considered a personal failing. Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 29 Aug. 2022 After more than a year of trying — and failing — to pack much of President Biden’s domestic agenda into a single tax-and-spend bill, Democrats appear to have finally found a workable combination. Jim Tankersley, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Aug. 2022 After more than a year of trying — and failing — to pack much of President Biden’s domestic agenda into a single tax-and-spend bill, Democrats appear to have finally found a winning combination. New York Times, 2 Aug. 2022 As a new feature, its biggest failing is how many games don't show up on Play Now. Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, 12 Aug. 2022 To Murphy Westwood, the vice president for science and conservation at the Morton Arboretum in Illinois, each loss feels like a moral failing. Sarah Kaplan, Anchorage Daily News, 14 July 2022 Our culture finds mental illness distasteful, unfortunate, a moral failing. Ahreaume, Longreads, 19 Aug. 2019 Extra weight is often considered a personal failing, but lots of factors beyond an individual's power contribute to weight gain, including food deserts, the cost of healthy food, stress and prejudice. Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 26 July 2022 The Beef, full name: The Original Beef of Chicagoland, is a mess, its finances in arrears, equipment failing, drug dealers scaring off customers. Christina Tkacik, Baltimore Sun, 12 July 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1590, in the meaning defined above
Preposition
1810, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing failing
Kids Definition
failing
noun
fail·ing ˈfā-ling
: a weakness or flaw in a person's character, behavior, or ability
failing 1 of 3
noun
as in fault
a defect in character we could talk about your failings, but it would take all night Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- fault
- weakness
- shortcoming
- deficiency
- sin
- want
- demerit
- foible
- frailty
- sinfulness
- vice
- dereliction
- flaw
- feet of clay
- evil
- imperfection
- soft spot
- stain
- blot
- blemish
- minus
- corruption
- spot
- immorality
- nit
- wickedness
- depravity
- Achilles' heel
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- virtue
- merit
- excellence
- perfection
- integrity
- morality
- righteousness
- goodness
- probity
- rectitude
failing
2 of 3adjective
as in declining
Synonyms & Similar Words
- declining
- dying
- decaying
- waning
- feeble
- weak
- weakened
- debilitated
- overrefined
- sapped
- precious
- enfeebled
- wasted
- enervate
- degenerate
- wimpy
- enervated
- decayed
- frail
- degraded
- languid
- demoralized
- decadent
- overripe
- soft
- debased
- immoral
- washed-up
- dissolute
- depraved
- effete
- dissipated
- debauched
- dissolute
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- undecadent
failing
3 of 3verb
1
as in dying
to stop functioning my car failed just as I was about to head to work Synonyms & Similar Words
- dying
- crashing
- stalling
- breaking
- malfunctioning
- cutting out
- breaking down
- giving out
- sputtering
- fizzling
- conking (out)
- wheezing
- jamming
- acting up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- starting (up)
2
as in collapsing
to be unsuccessful despite all the publicity, the movie failed miserably at the box office Synonyms & Similar Words
- collapsing
- struggling
- missing
- flopping
- folding
- bombing
- flunking
- declining
- foundering
- striking out
- tanking
- cratering
- crashing
- falling short
- falling flat
- flaming out
- slipping
- crumbling
- washing out
- floundering
- coming up empty
- slumping
- dying on the vine
- sinking
- waning
- misfiring
- falling on one's face
- skidding
- laying an egg
- coming to grief
- coming a cropper
- imploding
- miscarrying
- going under
- self-destructing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- succeeding
- going
- delivering
- clicking
- working out
- prospering
- thriving
- flourishing
- cooking
- winning
- prevailing
- coming off
- going over
- panning out
- triumphing
3
as in disappointing
to fall short in satisfying the expectation or hope of although the minor-league franchise continues to fail local fans, hope springs eternal Synonyms & Similar Words
- disappointing
- dissatisfying
- cheating
- letting down
- upsetting
- distressing
- deceiving
- displeasing
- disillusioning
- discontenting
- chagrining
- disenchanting
- mocking
- deluding
- disgruntling
- bumming (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- satisfying
- fulfilling
- gratifying
- contenting
- gladdening
4
as in weakening
to lose bodily strength or vigor ever since she reached the age of 90, Grandma has been noticeably failing Synonyms & Similar Words
- weakening
- going
- fading
- sagging
- sinking
- lagging
- deteriorating
- flagging
- drooping
- decaying
- wilting
- languishing
- withering
- emaciating
- rotting
- degenerating
- wasting (away)
- wearing out
- yielding
- breaking down
- running down
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- recovering
- rallying
- gaining
- recuperating
- rebounding
- convalescing
5
as in forgetting
to miss the opportunity or obligation failed to mention that he was looking for new job Synonyms & Similar Words
- forgetting
- neglecting
- omitting
- ignoring
- disregarding
- missing out on
- defaulting
- skipping
- sliding
- passing over
- pretermitting
- slipping
- overlooking
- slighting
- overpassing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- remembering
- doing
- keeping
- performing
- heeding
- observing
- executing
- practicing
- fulfilling
- minding
- satisfying
- practising
- meeting
- discharging
- carrying out
- complying (with)
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of failing are fault, foible, frailty, and vice. While all these words mean "an imperfection or weakness of character," failing suggests a minor shortcoming in character.
being late is a failing of mine
The synonyms fault and failing are sometimes interchangeable, but fault implies a failure, not necessarily culpable, to reach some standard of perfection in disposition, action, or habit.
a writer of many virtues and few faults
While in some cases nearly identical to failing, foible applies to a harmless or endearing weakness or idiosyncrasy.
an eccentric's charming foibles
The words frailty and failing are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, frailty implies a general or chronic proneness to yield to temptation.
human frailties
Although the words vice and failing have much in common, vice can be a general term for any imperfection or weakness, but it often suggests violation of a moral code or the giving of offense to the moral sensibilities of others.
compulsive gambling was his vice
- on someone's way out
- on something's way out
- on speaking terms
- on spec
- on special
- on special offer
- on staff
- on standby
- on steroids
- on such short notice
- on sufferance
- on suspicion of
- on tap
- on target
- on television
- on telly
- on tenterhooks
- on that score
- on that/this score
- on the air
- on the aisle
- on the alert
- on the altar of success
- on the assumption
- on the attack