failingnoun [ C ]
uk/ˈfeɪ.lɪŋ/us/ˈfeɪ.lɪŋ/a fault or weakness:
His one big failing is that he never says he's sorry.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Faults and mistakes
- a blot on sb's character idiom
- aberration
- Achilles heel
- adrift
- black mark
- chink
- clinker
- creep in/creep into sth
- errata
- erratum
- error
- false alarm
- false move
- faux pas
- lapse
- loophole
- misprint
- misspell
- mistake
- mistaken
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Weakness and vulnerability
failingpreposition
uk/ˈfeɪ.lɪŋ/us/ˈfeɪ.lɪŋ/if that is not possible:
Buy her some flowers, or failing that, just send her a card.
Appointments are available on the 2nd and the 6th of this month but failing either of those, we could fit you in on the 15th.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Impossible and improbable
- apt
- be out of the question idiom
- beggar
- beggar belief/description idiom
- castle
- dream
- fat
- goodbye to sth idiom
- I should be so lucky! idiom
- impossible
- improbable
- lucky
- million
- nailing jelly to the wall idiom
- no way idiom
- snowball
- there's no danger of that! idiom
- unlikely
- untenable
- you should be so lucky! idiom
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failingadjective
uk/ˈfeɪ.lɪŋ/us/ˈfeɪ.lɪŋ/becoming weaker or less successful:
a failing business
failing eyesight
In the failing light, it was hard to read the street signs.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Becoming and making less strong
- abate
- adulterate
- attenuate
- attrition
- blow over
- blunt
- deflate
- dial
- dim
- emasculate
- jelly
- keep sb down
- knock/take the stuffing out of sb/sth idiom
- muffle
- neutralize
- pine
- sag
- sap
- shake
- wither on the vine idiom
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