Cool MateFailure vs This is a disaster
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Failure
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
This is a disaster
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Failure
| Failure | This is a disaster | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈfeɪljə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈfeɪljər/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðɪs ɪz ə dɪˈzɑːstə//🇺🇸 //ðɪs ɪz ə dɪˈzæstər// |
| Meaning | not succeeding in something | This is a really bad situation. |
| Example | His failure to meet the deadline cost the company a valuable contract. | When the power went out during the party, I thought, this is a disaster! |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | 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 | complete disaster, natural disaster, avoid disaster, disaster relief, disaster recovery |
| Antonyms | success, achievement, victory | - |
| Common mistakes | 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.' | Using in overly casual situations., Not recognizing its severity when describing minor problems. |
| Usage notes | 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.' | Use in situations of significant trouble or misfortune. Avoid in light-hearted contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Failure vs This is a disaster
What's the difference between Failure and This is a disaster?
Failure: not succeeding in something This is a disaster: This is a really bad situation.
Which is more common: Failure and This is a disaster?
Failure is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Failure: His failure to meet the deadline cost the company a valuable contract. This is a disaster: When the power went out during the party, I thought, this is a disaster!
Can I use Failure and This is a disaster interchangeably?
Not always. Failure and This is a disaster 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.