Synonyms of fall flat

fall flat

phrase

1

as in collapse

to be unsuccessful

Her performance fell flat despite weeks of rehearsing.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• collapse
• fail
• flop
• strike out
• fold
• struggle
• fall short
• miss
• come up empty
• bomb
• come to grief
• lay an egg
• come a cropper
• tank
• wash out
• founder
• flame out
• fall on one's face
• crater
• flunk
• die on the vine
• decline
• crash
• slip
• slump
• go under
• skid
• flounder
• crumble
• wane
• sink
• misfire
• miscarry
• implode
• self-destruct

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• go
• succeed
• go over
• work out
• deliver
• click
• come off
• pan out
• cook
• thrive
• flourish
• triumph
• win
• prevail
• prosper

2

as in fall short

to go wrong

Their game plan fell flat when their star player suffered an injury.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fall short
• come to grief
• fail
• stall
• come a cropper
• die
• misfire
• miscarry
• miss
• struggle
• flop
• founder
• crash
• fold
• tank
• break down
• wash out
• bomb
• slump
• skid
• flounder
• slip
• flame out
• conk (out)
• fizzle
• decline
• wane
• bust
• flunk

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• succeed
• prevail
• thrive
• flourish
• prosper

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of fall flat

Hormonal shifts in your 40s, 50s and 60s can change how hair behaves, and a cut that worked for years may suddenly fall flat by lunchtime. — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026

Sasha is there to encourage her to dig deeper when her early attempts at writing fall flat. — Judy Berman, Time, 22 Oct. 2026

Ohioans are getting bombarded with Republican ads on tax cuts, but the message is falling flat with many voters who feel the weight of higher prices. — Jarrell Dillard, Washington Post, 20 Oct. 2026

In its uncertain tonality and zany humor that falls flat, that’s the Waititi film that Klara and the Sun most resembles. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2026