as in defeat
a falling short of one's goals
more than a few people were glad to see the obnoxiously smug skater come a cropper at the national championships
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Recent Examples of cropper
The family-friend label came a cropper after it was slapped with a multi-million-dollar copyright lawsuit by Disney, Warner Bros. and other major Hollywood studios for making unauthorized cuts – of scenes deemed unsuitable for family viewing by the brothers – to their movies and series.
—
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 3 June 2025
In January, 1813, at York Castle, fourteen croppers stood trial for rioting and machine breaking, which Parliament had deemed a capital offense in the new Frame-Breaking Act.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
Zelensky came a cropper when trying the same thing — but his stock soared back home at a time when Trump seems to be trying to oust him.
—Stephen Collinson, CNN, 15 Mar. 2025
DeSantis' landslide will likely turn out to be the historically most important result from last Tuesday, akin to but with even greater consequences than George W. Bush's victory in Texas in 1998, another midterm year in which the GOP otherwise came a cropper.
—Bradley Gitz, Arkansas Online, 28 Nov. 2022
But on closer inspection, there are differences: This cropper is shirtless, his backside a bit too pert, and the stalks of asparagus growing from the ground are, in fact, penises.
—Max Norman David Chow Victoria Petro-Conroy, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2022
Intent is where the Manhattan District Attorney’s financial case seemed to come a cropper.
—Norman Eisen, CNN, 30 Mar. 2022
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 3 June 2025
In January, 1813, at York Castle, fourteen croppers stood trial for rioting and machine breaking, which Parliament had deemed a capital offense in the new Frame-Breaking Act.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
Zelensky came a cropper when trying the same thing — but his stock soared back home at a time when Trump seems to be trying to oust him.
—Stephen Collinson, CNN, 15 Mar. 2025
DeSantis' landslide will likely turn out to be the historically most important result from last Tuesday, akin to but with even greater consequences than George W. Bush's victory in Texas in 1998, another midterm year in which the GOP otherwise came a cropper.
—Bradley Gitz, Arkansas Online, 28 Nov. 2022
But on closer inspection, there are differences: This cropper is shirtless, his backside a bit too pert, and the stalks of asparagus growing from the ground are, in fact, penises.
—Max Norman David Chow Victoria Petro-Conroy, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2022
Intent is where the Manhattan District Attorney’s financial case seemed to come a cropper.
—Norman Eisen, CNN, 30 Mar. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cropper
Noun
-
His only loss prior to his UFC 311 setback to Makhachev was a March 2022 unanimous decision defeat to former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos in a 160-pound catchweight battle.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
-
In 1916, as First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill led the Entente powers of the First World War in a crushing defeat on Turkey’s Gallipoli Peninsula at the hands of the Ottoman Empire.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
22 June 2025
Noun
-
But the glow of success, and even more so the pall of failure, is always shared.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 2025
-
The launch was the first since a California Starlink launch that ended up with a second-stage failure that grounded the Falcon 9.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 June 2025
Noun
-
Despite official reassurances, the currency markets are painting a different picture — one of accelerating collapse.—
Antonio Maria Delgado,
Miami Herald,
20 June 2025
-
The new legislation was passed in the aftermath of the deadly collapse of the Champlain Towers South building in Surfside in June 2021 which killed 98 people.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 June 2025
Noun
-
Detaching parts may pose a hazard to other road users and increase the risk of crashes, according to the NHTSA report.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
25 June 2025
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No injuries or hazardous materials leaks were reported after the crash near Cannery Avenue, according to Deputy Chief Khalilah Yancey of the Baltimore City Fire Department.—
Racquel Bazos,
Baltimore Sun,
24 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cropper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cropper. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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