dud

1 of 2

noun

ˈdəd 

1

duds plural

a

: clothing

b

: personal belongings

2

a

: one that is ineffectual

also : failure

a box-office dud

b

: misfit

3

: a bomb or missile that fails to explode

dud

2 of 2

adjective

: of little or no worth : valueless

dud checks

Synonyms of dud

Noun

• disaster
• failure
• disappointment
• catastrophe

Examples of dud in a Sentence

Noun

The seeds must have been duds because the plants never grew.

She put on her new duds for the party.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Is Sacramento's downtown rebound a dud? —Steve Large, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026

This latest stretch all came on the heels of following up one of the best wins — not just of the season, but statistically in franchise history — in Oklahoma City with that pair of duds at home against Toronto and Indiana. —Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 19 Jan. 2026

Adjective

There are no dud rooms by any stretch, but for the most lascivious stay, the new villas for 2025 are somehow even lovelier—for a POA, of course. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Jan. 2026

In a dud finale against the Detroit Lions in 1991, Wolford got rolled up and suffered a high-ankle sprain that hobbled him throughout the postseason. —Tim Graham, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English dudde

First Known Use

Noun

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1899, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for dud

• blood
• bud
• crud
• flood
• mud
• rud
• scud
• spud
• stud
• thud
• lifeblood
• youngblood

Kids Definition

dud

noun

ˈdəd

1

plural

a

: clothes sense 1

b

: personal belongings

2

: a complete failure

the movie was a dud

3

: a missile (as a bomb or shell) that fails to explode