failed
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failed
Describes a plan, project, or attempt that was not successful and did not achieve its goal.
Nach monatelangen Verhandlungen ist der Versuch einer Einigung endgültig gescheitert.
After months of negotiations, the attempt to reach an agreement has definitively failed.
failed
Describes a person who has not been successful in life, in their career, or with an important personal endeavor.
Er fühlte sich als gescheiterter Künstler, weil er von seiner Kunst nicht leben konnte.
He felt like a failed artist because he couldn't make a living from his art.
'Gescheitert' (failed) is the past participle of 'scheitern' (to fail). The verb 'scheitern' always forms the past tense with the auxiliary verb 'sein' (to be), because it describes a change of state. So it is always 'etwas ist gescheitert' (something has failed).
Der Plan, das Projekt bis Freitag fertigzustellen, ist leider gescheitert.
The plan to finish the project by Friday has unfortunately failed.
If you want to name the reason for the failure, you use the preposition 'an' followed by the dative. You fail because of something or someone: 'an etwas oder an jemandem scheitern'.
Die Verhandlungen sind am Geld gescheitert.
The negotiations failed because of the money.
It is easy to recognize which meaning is intended: If 'gescheitert' (failed) refers to a thing such as a plan, a project, or a marriage, it is about failure. If it refers directly to a person, it often describes a personal life crisis.
Der Putschversuch ist in den ersten Stunden gescheitert.
The coup attempt failed in the first few hours.
futile
Both words can describe an attempt that does not achieve its goal. Vergeblich emphasizes above all that the effort expended achieved nothing; gescheitert describes the failure of the plan or attempt itself. If the attempt as an effort is the focus, use vergeblich; if the undertaking is the focus, use gescheitert.
Ihr Versuch, die verschlossene Tür zu öffnen, ist gescheitert.
Her attempt to open the locked door failed.
Sie versuchte vergeblich, die verschlossene Tür zu öffnen.
She tried in vain to open the locked door.
