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god that failed

god that failed

9.9
A person who once had great power or fame but later does not succeed
  • noun
translation icon : dios fracasado
  • The documentary portrays the tech visionary as a god that failed in the fast-paced industry.

Examples

  • She was once hailed as a prodigy, but ended up remembered as a god that failed.

  • The documentary portrays the tech visionary as a god that failed due to his series of unsuccessful ventures.

  • Many saw the politician as a god that failed after his dramatic fall from power.

  • He became a god that failed in the eyes of his followers.

  • Many view the politician as a god that failed after the scandal.

  • Many saw the politician as a god that failed after his dramatic fall from power.

  • She was once hailed as a prodigy, but ended up remembered as a god that failed.

Synonyms

failure
vsgod that failed
  • Offensive
405 2.7

A person who does not succeed at things they try

had earlier high ambitions or influence before eventually not succeeding
underachiever
vsgod that failed
11 4.6

A person, often a student, who gets lower grades than they could

aimed for major influence or goals but fell short
washout
vsgod that failed
  • Offensive
4 7.2

A person who fails to succeed after showing early promise

had larger ambitions and public influence before failing to meet expectations
never-was
vsgod that failed
  • Offensive
3 9.3

A person or thing that never succeeds and never becomes known

had earlier ambition or influence but later failed to reach success
flopper
vsgod that failed
  • Offensive
1 8.2

Something that fails completely

had notable prior status or aims rather than always being totally unsuccessful
born loser
vsgod that failed
  • Offensive
1 6.5

A person who often fails and seems unlucky

had major ambitions or influence before failing and was not inherently destined to fail
unsuccessful person
vsgod that failed
1 4.2

A person who often fails to reach their goals

previously held ambitious aims or influence but ultimately did not succeed
nonstarter
vsgod that failed
  • Informal
1 7.6

A person who often fails and is not taken seriously

had early prominence or large aims rather than lacking any initial status
nonsuccess
vsgod that failed
6.6

A person who does not reach an important goal

once had strong goals or influence but failed to meet expectations

Antonyms

1.0

Getting what you want after working hard

18 3.2

A person who reaches their goals through hard work and skill

How Successful

famous person
50 1.0
god that failed
9.9
failure
  • Offensive
405 2.7

Surface Forms

Morphology

god + that + fail

The meaning is directly compositional: 'god' (an admired or idolized person) + the relative 'that' + 'failed' yields 'an admired person who did not succeed,' which follows ordinary noun + relative-clause semantics. A B1 learner who knows the constituent words and basic grammar can confidently infer this sense without prior exposure.

Etymology

God that failed comes from the image of putting someone on a very high place like a god and then watching them fall or let people down. So, the phrase is used for someone who was once admired but later did not live up to expectations, 'a person who failed'.