variants also kaputt
Definition of kaputnext
1
as in done
facing certain defeat, disaster, or death once the Germans were forced to retreat from Stalingrad, the Nazi cause was kaput

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of kaput But with the continuing demand for sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks, executive cruisers and road trip comfort mobiles are largely kaput. James Raia, Mercury News, 26 July 2026 Her campaign was supposedly kaput. Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026 Gunn tells Deadline, that The Authority is not kaput. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 27 Sep. 2025 Kelly Reilly, who plays Beth Dutton, seems adamant that the OG Yellowstone is kaput. Bethy Squires, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2024 Now all three of those competitors are kaput, felled by runs on deposits during the biggest banking crisis in a decade and a half. Rob Copeland, New York Times, 14 June 2023 The Stooges are now functionally kaput—of the original lineup, only Pop is left. Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2019 At least not on Sunday afternoon, nearly a full two days after the Clippers were supposed to be done, finished, as kaput as the Kings – those in Sacramento and Los Angeles. Jeff Miller, Orange County Register, 29 Apr. 2017 The damages for that less-than-brilliant marketing idea could be as much as $120 million, meaning the company as a whole is pretty much financially kaput. Susan Arendt, WIRED, 14 Mar. 2007
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kaput
Adjective
  • Howe has spoken repeatedly about the influence Keegan’s doomed and dashing team had on him as a young footballer.
    George Caulkin, New York Times, 30 July 2026
  • That’s often a doomed idea in Mann’s other movies, but here, not so much.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 29 July 2026
Adjective
  • This drives lenders to demand aggressive loan amortization schedules to pay down the debt before the tech becomes obsolete.
    Dr. Dick Bridy, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The perfection of satellite and fiber-optic communications made microwaves obsolete, while the rapid development of modern computers turned the gubbins on the lower floors into museum pieces.
    David Szondy August 01, New Atlas, 1 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Watching the first episode of Ultimate Girl’s Trip is like riding in a malfunctioning time machine.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Nuggets, wings, manchurian mix, lentils and chicken were stored above proper holding temperatures in a malfunctioning refrigerator unit.
    Vince Basada August 7, Sacbee.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Sitting on the rim of his consciousness was always cataclysm, the muted whisper of a ruined world.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2026
Adjective
  • And the rest is public perception, which has shifted against what many Americans see as a dirty, archaic form of power generation.
    Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Now, if the league would drop its archaic blackout rules, this would be a lot easier for everyone.
    Scott Powers, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The down-ballot race comes as insurers flee California, raise premiums and face backlash over wildfire claims, heightening stakes for homeowners, renters and businesses from Pacific Palisades to the San Francisco Bay Area.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Maine fishermen caught more than 78 million pounds (35 million kilograms) of lobster last year — a down year by the industry's recent standards.
    ABC News, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • In my experience, mid-market companies operate with leaner teams and cannot absorb the sunk costs of a multi-month implementation with room for scope creep, reworks and failures.
    Prathamesh Bhingarde, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • Then there’s the sunk cost of picks already spent trying to find The Guy — picks that weren’t used for help up front for Bedard.
    Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 24 June 2026
Adjective
  • Comptroller Brooke Lierman acknowledged that Maryland needed to improve its return rate and modernize its antiquated systems.
    Mark Lewyn, Baltimore Sun, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Dust ruffles may have gone the way of the dodo after their heyday in the maximalist ’80s, but the absolute best bed skirts (done up in cottagecore ginghams and frothy sateens) are putting the antiquated bed dressing back on the map.
    Shoko Wanger, Architectural Digest, 3 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Kaput.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kaput. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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