failures
Things that flopped
Failures is the plural of failure—instances of not succeeding, or people or things that have not succeeded.
The word covers everything from mechanical breakdowns (equipment failures) to personal shortcomings (I've had my share of failures).
Unlike the singular, which often names an abstract state, failures typically points to specific, countable instances: a string of failures, learning from past failures.
Sudden structural failure
- cave-inUnderground passage collapse
- crumbleFragment gradually
- fractureSplit in hard material
- malfunctionFailure to operate properly
breakdown · rupture · buckling · fatigue · crack · stress · load · foundation
Something blocking the way
- hindranceBarrier to progress
- reversalComplete change of direction
- delayEnforced waiting period
- stumbling blockObstacle causing difficulty
impediment · snag · hiccup · disappointment · regression · relapse · slip · difficulty
Inability to pay debts
- defaultPreset standard option
- liquidationSelling assets for cash
- debtsSums owed to others
- creditorsThose owed payment
restructuring · foreclosure · receivership · Chapter 11 · bailout · petition · court · trustee
Successive downward flow
- domino effectSequential causation phenomenon
- contagionDisease spread by contact
- widespreadExisting across many places
- epidemicWidespread disease occurrence
institutional · organizational · oversight · negligence · accountability · systemic · root cause · chain reaction
Gaining knowledge gradually
- lessonsUnits of teaching
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- feedbackReturned response data
- experiencePractical knowledge from life
reflection · growth · improvement · adaptation · wisdom · insight · progress · recovery
Testable proposed explanation
- trialJudicial examination of claims
- errorFault in communication
- dataFacts for analysis
- resultsWhat follows from effort
control · variable · replication · falsification · validation · laboratory · analysis · research
collapse
Sudden structural failure
malfunction · breakdown · rupture · buckling · fatigue · crack · stress · load · foundation · structural
obstacle
Something blocking the way
stumbling block · impediment · snag · hiccup · disappointment · regression · relapse · slip · difficulty · bump
insolvency
Inability to pay debts
- defaultPreset standard option
- liquidationSelling assets for cash
- debtsSums owed to others
creditors · restructuring · foreclosure · receivership · Chapter 11 · bailout · petition · court · trustee · liabilities
cascade
Successive downward flow
- domino effectSequential causation phenomenon
- contagionDisease spread by contact
- widespreadExisting across many places
epidemic · institutional · organizational · oversight · negligence · accountability · systemic · root cause · chain reaction · infrastructure
learning
Gaining knowledge gradually
- lessonsUnits of teaching
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- feedbackReturned response data
experience · reflection · growth · improvement · adaptation · wisdom · insight · progress · recovery · perseverance
hypothesis
Testable proposed explanation
results · control · variable · replication · falsification · validation · laboratory · analysis · research · procedure
- errorserror, mistake, blunder, blunders, fault
- learning experiencesmistakes, successes, mentorship, challenges, setbacks
- Lapsesslip, slip-ups, error, mistakes, blunder
- mismanagementmishandling, dysfunction, misuse, incompetence, inefficiency
- biographybirth, death date, autobiography, life story, biography
- failuresflop, flops, bust, busts, dud
failuressuccesses
Favorable outcomes achieved
achievements · victories · accomplishments · triumphs · wins
failuressuccesses
Favorable outcomes achieved
achievements · abilities · competencies · strengths · proficiencies
- heart failureInadequate blood pumping condition
- power failureLoss of electrical service
- engine failureLoss of motor function
- grid failureElectrical network collapse
- system failureComplete breakdown of operations
- mechanical failureEquipment stops working properly