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

For the most part, Chéri and Baum simply go full steam ahead, which means that their intermittent attempts to have things both ways usually end up falling flat. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Nov. 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

This season has been pockmarked by teams winning big games and falling flat the next; Indiana has to go to Michigan next week to try and buck that trend. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026

The bullpens battled to a scoreless draw, the Dodgers’ last stand falling flat after Tucker and pinch-hitting rookie Josue De Paula drew a pair of two-out walks against Brewers closer Trevor Megill. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026

The resilient fill bounces back night after night, maintaining its shape without falling flat. — V Brand Stories, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026

But the execution was dead on arrival, with the whole thing falling flat on its face. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2026

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