Synonyms of falling flat

falling flat

phrase

present participle of fall flat

1

as in collapsing

to be unsuccessful

Her performance fell flat despite weeks of rehearsing.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• collapsing
• failing
• flopping
• striking out
• falling short
• folding
• coming up empty
• missing
• flaming out
• coming to grief
• struggling
• laying an egg
• dying on the vine
• coming a cropper
• washing out
• bombing
• falling on one's face
• flunking
• tanking
• foundering
• cratering
• declining
• crashing
• going under
• slipping
• crumbling
• skidding
• slumping
• floundering
• waning
• sinking
• misfiring
• miscarrying
• imploding
• self-destructing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• working out
• going over
• coming off
• going
• succeeding
• delivering
• clicking
• panning out
• cooking
• thriving
• flourishing
• prospering
• prevailing
• winning
• triumphing

2

as in falling short

to go wrong

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• falling short
• coming to grief
• failing
• coming a cropper
• misfiring
• stalling
• dying
• missing
• miscarrying
• washing out
• flopping
• struggling
• flaming out
• breaking down
• crashing
• folding
• conking (out)
• foundering
• flunking
• skidding
• bombing
• waning
• floundering
• slumping
• slipping
• fizzling
• declining
• busting
• tanking

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• prevailing
• succeeding
• thriving
• flourishing
• prospering

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of falling flat

The trick to making the formula feel dynamic is mixing materials, as a blend of textures helps prevent your ensemble from falling flat. — Kelsey Stewart, Glamour, 10 July 2026

But with Trump returning to office and previous Democratic attempts to rein in his power through impeachment falling flat, the kind of Trump accountability messages pushed by the incumbents didn’t stick among constituents. — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 July 2026

That being said, there’s an art to styling these jeans in order to keep your look from falling flat. — Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 2 July 2026