as in died
to stop living
the patient was fading fast, and doctors expected him to flatline before the night was over
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Recent Examples of flatlined
Meanwhile, the travel sector, often a bellwether for consumer discretionary spending, has flatlined; Transportation Security Administration numbers for January were stagnant, and hotel occupancy rates dipped 1% year over year.
—
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2026
Employee engagement has been in decline since 2020 and, over the past two years, has flatlined at 31% of US employees being actively engaged at work.
—Barnaby Lashbrooke, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
The scoring punch has flatlined.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
Because of high home prices, historically elevated mortgage rates and other higher housing costs, including property taxes and homeowner insurance premiums, Gen Z and millennial homeownership rates flatlined last year.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
But after growth soared from late 2023 through last year, the business has flatlined, with some analysts saying that Dell has taken market share.
—Ari Levy, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2025
Chase Brown had completely flatlined as a fantasy commodity before Flacco’s arrival, and Tee Higgins was approaching a similar status.
—Andy Behrens, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
After administering chest compressions — during which Bennett flatlined — a doctor asked if the couple would be willing to put their son on life support.
—Greta Bjornson, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2025
Multiple nations now have annihilation-level nuclear assets, and yet, even as the threat continues escalating, public concern has flatlined.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2026
Employee engagement has been in decline since 2020 and, over the past two years, has flatlined at 31% of US employees being actively engaged at work.
—Barnaby Lashbrooke, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
The scoring punch has flatlined.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
Because of high home prices, historically elevated mortgage rates and other higher housing costs, including property taxes and homeowner insurance premiums, Gen Z and millennial homeownership rates flatlined last year.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
But after growth soared from late 2023 through last year, the business has flatlined, with some analysts saying that Dell has taken market share.
—Ari Levy, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2025
Chase Brown had completely flatlined as a fantasy commodity before Flacco’s arrival, and Tee Higgins was approaching a similar status.
—Andy Behrens, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
After administering chest compressions — during which Bennett flatlined — a doctor asked if the couple would be willing to put their son on life support.
—Greta Bjornson, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2025
Multiple nations now have annihilation-level nuclear assets, and yet, even as the threat continues escalating, public concern has flatlined.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flatlined
Verb
-
As of now, it is known that two people died as a result of this attack.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Feb. 2026
-
One person died Wednesday when a pickup truck crashed in an East County intersection.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Cortina Mayor Gianluca Lorenzi received death threats after centuries-old trees were felled to make way for a $131 million bobsledding track.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Afterward, Agnes and I were felled by the kind of hunger that overtakes only those who have exerted themselves in cold weather.—
Boris Fishman,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flatlined.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flatlined. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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