Cool MateDisappointment vs Failure
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Disappointment
Beyond 10,000 (less common)B2noun
Failure
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
Most common: Failure
| Disappointment | Failure | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntmənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntmənt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈfeɪljə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈfeɪljər/"]/ |
| Meaning | Feeling sad or unhappy because something didn't happen as expected. | not succeeding in something |
| Example | She felt a deep disappointment when she did not get the job. | His failure to meet the deadline cost the company a valuable contract. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | bitter, considerable, deep, be aware of, feel, sense, show, fill somebody, set in, to somebody’s disappointment, disappointment about, disappointment at, a feeling of disappointment, a sense of disappointment, tears of disappointment, big, bitter, crushing, have, experience, suffer, come, follow something, disappointment for, disappointment to | complete, total, abject, be doomed to, end in, result in, rate, fear of failure, a history of failure, a possibility of failure, big, great, serious, be, represent, prove, arise from something, failure of, fundamental, general, manifest, excuse, justify, constitute, mechanical, structural, technical, cause, lead to, result in, occur, failure in, mechanical, structural, technical, cause, lead to, result in, occur, failure in, mechanical, structural, technical, cause, lead to, result in, occur, failure in |
| Antonyms | satisfaction, contentment, joy | success, achievement, victory |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'disappointment' vs 'disappoint'., Using it with a verb instead of a noun form., Not using it when describing emotional reactions. | Using 'failure' as a verb instead of a noun., Confusing 'failure' with 'fault,' thinking they mean the same., Not using appropriate prepositions, such as saying 'failure of' instead of 'failure to.' |
| Usage notes | Use 'disappointment' when discussing feelings about unmet expectations. It's suitable in both formal and informal contexts but avoid it when discussing minor inconveniences. | Use 'failure' to describe a lack of success in a specific endeavor. Avoid in very formal documents unless necessary. In casual conversations, 'failure' can sound heavy; people may prefer 'not succeeding.' |
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Frequently asked questions: Disappointment vs Failure
What's the difference between Disappointment and Failure?
Disappointment: Feeling sad or unhappy because something didn't happen as expected. Failure: not succeeding in something
Which is more common: Disappointment and Failure?
Failure is the most common in everyday English.
Are Disappointment and Failure the same CEFR level?
Disappointment: B2, Failure: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Disappointment and Failure?
Disappointment: noun, Failure: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Disappointment: She felt a deep disappointment when she did not get the job. Failure: His failure to meet the deadline cost the company a valuable contract.
Can I use Disappointment and Failure interchangeably?
Not always. Disappointment and Failure are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.