as in disasters
something that has failed
the movie is such a flop that theaters showing it are the loneliest places in town
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in collapses
to be unsuccessful
the attempt to run the ball into the end zone flopped, and our team lost by five points
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in flaps
to move or cause to move with a striking motion
a fish flopping around on the dock
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flops
Abby Dodge, CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025
But what happens when such a bold film flops, both critically and commercially, as Jarmusch’s, alas, did?
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
From financial wipeouts to baffling misreads of beloved source material, some of Hollywood’s most notorious flops began as video games.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 19 Dec. 2025
If Quinn Ewers gets a chance in December and flops, then go back to Tagovailoa.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 16 Dec. 2025
In the aftermath of the attack, strollers were left behind on the lawn, discarded as parents grabbed their children and ran, throwing off their flip flops, to flee the bullets and find shelter.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 15 Dec. 2025
Previous legal efforts, for example South Korean and Chinese laws banning video games at night, were found to be flops.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 15 Dec. 2025
Nintendo has its share of flops, failed experiments, and puzzling business decisions–as does every firm.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 5 Dec. 2025
Meanwhile, a string of box office flops led 20th Century Fox to sell off much of its backlot, just north of the 10 Freeway, to real estate developers in 1961, creating what would be Century City.
—Oren Peleg, HollywoodReporter, 9 Nov. 2025
Shawn Tully, Fortune, 29 Nov. 2025
Amina blows her mom a kiss and then flops down in her crib, pretending to be asleep.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
At one point, Alex comes over to recheck his map and, seeing Rizo attempt to analyze his work, flops over on the puzzle, causing Rizo to pause.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
Floridians normally wearing flip flops were bundled up to ring in the new year.
—Abby Dodge, CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025
But what happens when such a bold film flops, both critically and commercially, as Jarmusch’s, alas, did?
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
From financial wipeouts to baffling misreads of beloved source material, some of Hollywood’s most notorious flops began as video games.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 19 Dec. 2025
If Quinn Ewers gets a chance in December and flops, then go back to Tagovailoa.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 16 Dec. 2025
In the aftermath of the attack, strollers were left behind on the lawn, discarded as parents grabbed their children and ran, throwing off their flip flops, to flee the bullets and find shelter.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 15 Dec. 2025
Previous legal efforts, for example South Korean and Chinese laws banning video games at night, were found to be flops.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 15 Dec. 2025
Nintendo has its share of flops, failed experiments, and puzzling business decisions–as does every firm.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 5 Dec. 2025
Meanwhile, a string of box office flops led 20th Century Fox to sell off much of its backlot, just north of the 10 Freeway, to real estate developers in 1961, creating what would be Century City.
—Oren Peleg, HollywoodReporter, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
Fortunately for shareholders, the stock grants come with a feature similar to equity options that somewhat reduces Musk’s payday, especially in a case like the one above where the plan flops.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 29 Nov. 2025
Amina blows her mom a kiss and then flops down in her crib, pretending to be asleep.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
At one point, Alex comes over to recheck his map and, seeing Rizo attempt to analyze his work, flops over on the puzzle, causing Rizo to pause.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flops
Noun
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An extended shutdown could put more pressure on that fund, especially if FEMA must respond to new disasters.—
Meg Kinnard,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
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And more extreme weather means costlier disasters for American communities, from tracking warning signs to running clean up in the aftermath.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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First, a knight’s urgent secretion plops to the ground behind a tree that offers far too little.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
13 Jan. 2026
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The individual then plops the turtle back down, taps its shell a few times, and walks away.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
25 Nov. 2025
Verb
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What’s becoming harder to ignore is who appears to be benefiting when oversight collapses.—
Jennifer Nassour,
Boston Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
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Fernandina gangway collapses during 4th of July fireworks The cause of the deck collapse is under investigation.—
Teresa Stepzinski,
Florida Times-Union,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Squirrel-like Skwovets and Greedents hoard their berries and jam their cheeks with food as a Fearow flaps its wings overhead.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
27 Jan. 2026
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In the canonical metaphorical example, a butterfly flaps its wings in Brazil, and the cascading sequence of atmospheric perturbations leads to a tornado in Texas.—
Dan Garisto,
Scientific American,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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That last-minute development is reviving debate about the extent of state support for Vanke, one of the last major developers to have avoided an outright default after a broader property market slump sparked record debt failures in recent years.—
Bloomberg News,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
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Studies show that hot spots cause 22 percent of PV module failures within just three years of operation.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But don’t let any of that hinder you from seeing director/co-screenwriter Ryan Prows’ nutso horror movie, which also tosses some decidedly less effective social commentary onto the barbie.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
14 Jan. 2026
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Some lay them flat, others hang them up, and the last set tosses them into a bin.—
Jennifer Prince,
Southern Living,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Shift from Profit to Purpose While most companies are in the business of making money, history shows that greed as a business strategy often fails.—
Serenity Gibbons,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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And if all else fails, throw a boneless rib eye or skirt steak in the freezer until firm and use a sharp knife to slice it yourself.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel (center) flutters a Venezuelan and Cuban national flags in support of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in Havana.—
Kiki Intarasuwan,
CBS News,
3 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flops.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flops. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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