failing
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for failing, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A weakness or flaw in someone's character or ability.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use failing
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Frequently asked questions
What does “failing” mean?
The word “failing” means a weakness or flaw in someone's character or ability. In plain terms, either a personal shortcoming, or a way of saying "if that doesn't work.".
How do you pronounce “failing”?
“Failing” is pronounced FAY-lihng (/ˈfeɪ.lɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “failing” in a sentence?
Here is “failing” used in a sentence: “Impatience is one of his few failings.”
What part of speech is “failing”?
Depending on how it is used, “failing” can be a noun and a preposition.
Is “failing” a common word?
“Failing” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “failing” have?
“Failing” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a weakness or flaw in someone's character or ability.
What is the difference between "failing" and "failure"?
A "failing" is a weakness or flaw in someone's character or ability, as in "his one failing is impatience." A "failure" is usually a lack of success or an unsuccessful thing or person, so a failing is a shortcoming rather than an outright unsuccessful outcome.
When is "failing" used as a preposition?
"Failing" acts as a preposition when it introduces a fallback option, as in "Failing a refund, they offered store credit." Here it means "in the absence of" or "if that is not available."
What are common collocations with "failing"?
As a noun it appears in phrases like "a personal failing," "a common failing," and "despite his failings." As a preposition it is followed directly by a noun, as in "failing agreement" or "failing that."