Week 4 - Failure Flashcards
abortive
failing to produce the intended result.
Example: The mission was abortive and did not achieve its objectives.
balk
hesitate or be unwilling to accept an idea or undertaking.
Example: He balked at the high price of the car and decided not to buy it.
besiege
surround (a place) with armed forces in order to capture it or force its surrender.
Example: The army besieged the city for months before it finally surrendered.
capitulate
cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand; surrender.
Example: The rebels had to capitulate after their supplies ran out.
carnage
the killing of a large number of people.
Example: The battlefield was filled with carnage after the fierce fighting.
catastrophic
involving or causing sudden great damage or suffering.
Example: The earthquake was catastrophic, leaving the city in ruins.
debacle
a sudden and ignominious failure; a fiasco.
Example: The event turned into a debacle, embarrassing everyone involved.
falter
start to lose strength or momentum.
Example: She began to falter as the deadline approached.
fiasco
a complete failure, especially in a ludicrous or humiliating way.
Example: The party was a fiasco due to the unexpected storm.
forestall
prevent or obstruct (an anticipated event or action) by taking action ahead of time.
Example: They tried to forestall the attack by negotiating with the enemy.
fruitless
failing to achieve the desired results; unproductive or useless.
Example: Their efforts were fruitless, and they failed to find a solution.
harbinger
a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another.
Example: The robin is a harbinger of spring.
impasse
a situation in which no progress is possible, especially because of disagreement; a deadlock.
Example: The negotiations reached an impasse, with neither side willing to compromise.
incapacitate
prevent from functioning in a normal way.
Example: The accident incapacitated him for several months.
moribund
at the point of death.
Example: The patient was moribund and not expected to survive the night.
nadir
the lowest point in the fortunes of a person or organization.
Example: His career reached its nadir after the scandal.
ominous
giving the impression that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen; threatening; inauspicious.
Example: The dark clouds gave an ominous feeling about the impending storm.
plight
a dangerous, difficult, or otherwise unfortunate situation.
Example: They were in a plight with no way to escape the flooding.
quandary
a state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation.
Example: She was in a quandary about whether to accept the job offer.
ramifications
consequences of an action or event, especially when complex or unwelcome.
Example: The new law had many unexpected ramifications.
repulse
drive back by force.
Example: The army was able to repulse the invaders and protect the city.
stymie
prevent or hinder the progress of.
Example: Bureaucratic red tape stymied their efforts to start the project.
succumb
fail to resist (pressure, temptation, or some other negative force).
Example: He finally succumbed to his injuries after fighting for weeks.
thwart
prevent (someone) from accomplishing something.
Example: Their plans were thwarted by unexpected obstacles.
