Advanced General IELTS Words for "Failure"

hand-to-mouth

Adjective

/hˈændtəmˈaʊθ/

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Disapproving

Informal

describing a situation where income is just sufficient to cover basic needs

Example

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Despite working full-time, the family lived a hand-to-mouth existence, struggling to cover basic expenses like rent and groceries.

The artist, passionate about their craft, led a hand-to-mouth lifestyle, relying on occasional sales of their artwork to make ends meet.

inefficacious

Adjective

i

ɪ

n

e

ɛ

ff

f

i

ɪ

c

k

a

eɪ

c

ʃ

iou

ə

s

Disapproving

Formal

not effective in achieving the intended purpose

efficacious

abortive

Adjective

a

ə

b

o

ɔ

r

t

i

ɪ

v

e

Disapproving

Formal

failing to produce or accomplish the desired outcome

unprosperous

Adjective

u

ʌ

n

p

r

o

ɑ:

s

p

e

ə

r

ou

ə

s

not doing well or not having enough money or success

ill-fated

Adjective

/ˈɪlfˈeɪɾᵻd/

Disapproving

bringing bad fortune or ending in failure

bungled

Adjective

b

u

ə

n

g

ə

l

e

d

Disapproving

Informal

poorly executed or managed, resulting in a failure to achieve the intended outcome

unavailing

Adjective

u

ə

n

a

ə

v

ai

eɪ

l

i

ɪ

n

g

Disapproving

Formal

resulting in little or no effect or success

foiled

Adjective

f

oi

ɔɪ

l

e

d

prevented from succeeding or achieving a desired outcome

destitute

Adjective

d

e

ɛ

s

t

i

ə

t

u

t

e

Formal

lacking various essential needs that are important for well-being or function

indigent

Adjective

i

ɪ

n

d

i

ɪ

g

ʤ

e

ə

n

t

Formal

extremely poor or in need

to backfire

Verb

b

a

æ

ck

k

f

i

aɪ

r

e

to have a result contrary to what one desired or intended

Grammatical Information:

intransitive

to blunder

Verb

b

l

u

ʌ

n

d

e

ə

r

Informal

to commit an embarrassing and serious mistake out of carelessness or stupidity

Grammatical Information:

intransitive

to bungle

Verb

b

u

ʌ

n

g

ə

l

e

Informal

to handle a task or activity clumsily, often causing damage or problem

to fizzle

Verb

f

i

ɪ

zz

z

ə

l

e

Informal

to fail or end in a weak or disappointing manner

to languish

Verb

l

a

æ

n

g

u

w

i

ɪ

sh

ʃ

to fail to be successful or make any progress

to fold

Verb

f

o

oʊ

l

d

(of a company, organization, etc.) to close or stop trading due to financial problems

open

Grammatical Information:

intransitive

to underperform

Verb

/ˈəndɝpɝˌfɔɹm/

to not succeed as much as intended

to relinquish

Verb

r

e

i

l

i

ɪ

n

q

k

u

w

i

ɪ

sh

ʃ

Formal

to voluntarily give up or surrender control, possession, or responsibility over something

to fumble

Verb

f

u

ə

m

b

ə

l

e

Informal

to handle or grip something clumsily or ineffectively

to misfire

Verb

m

i

ɪ

s

f

i

aɪɜ

r

e

(of a plan) to fail to have the intended result

Grammatical Information:

transitive

languishing

Adjective

l

a

æ

n

g

u

w

i

ɪ

sh

ʃ

i

ɪ

n

g

Disapproving

suffering or experiencing a lack of progress, vitality, or growth, often characterized by a feeling of being stuck or in decline

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