flameout 1 of 2

noun

ˈflām-ˌau̇t How to pronounce flameout (audio)
Definition of flameoutnext
as in demise
a loss of status before her sudden, self-inflicted flameout, she was one of the state's brightest political stars

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

flame out

2 of 2

verb

as in to fail
to be unsuccessful even at the reception, some were predicting that the marriage would flame out before the fancy china ever got used

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of flameout
Noun
Usually when an actor in a major role skedaddles a series in mid-stream — because of firings, feuds, contract fights, health crises or creative flameouts — the show finds a way to go on. — Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 23 May 2026 Set in the late 1980s, the film follows 13-year-old Felice (an exceptional Tiziano Menichelli), a budding tennis star whose overbearing father hooks him up with Raul Getti (Favino), a flameout former pro with a new lithium prescription and a serious ladies-man streak. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
Shareholders are upset with massive losses and strategic bets that dramatically flamed out. — Andrew Staples, Fortune, 3 July 2026 While many of those early Internet high-flyers flamed out, the ones that survived — think Amazon and Google — eventually became profitable businesses or even household names. — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for flameout
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flameout
  1. demise
  2. fail
  3. downfall
  4. collapse
  5. down
  6. flop
  7. setback
  8. strike out
Noun
  • Tubes from hospital equipment were still attached to his face, gunshot wounds on his right side were still gaping, and tattoos which included a gun and a bullet casing were still embedded in his skin, a permanent memorial to the tools of his demise.
    — Andy Rose, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
  • But just one injury — or significant drop in play, for that matter – could bring about Miami’s early demise.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of demise
Verb
  • The company has bucked the trend of failing casual dining restaurants.
    — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Abshir was scheduled for a mandatory meeting with his pretrial release supervisor that day but failed to appear.
    — WCCO Staff, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of fail
Noun
  • After Iran’s last monarch was deposed in 1979, various paramilitary groups that helped hasten his downfall coalesced into the IRGC.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
  • For others, his downfall exposed the intense and often racist scrutiny Black academics face.
    — Michel Martin, NPR, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of downfall
Verb
  • The United States and Canada are barreling toward a deeper trade war after last-ditch efforts to strike a deal collapsed Friday.
    — Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The Soviet Union collapsed in December 1991, and its successor, the Russian Federation, didn’t use Tartus for many years.
    — Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of collapse
Noun
  • The four-week average of claims, which smooths out week-to-week ups and downs, ticked up to 204,000 last week from 199,750.
    — Paul Wiseman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Mountain Vista goes for it on fourth down but the Seminole defense sacks Marquise Reese to force a turnover on downs.
    — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of down
Verb
  • Designs against the three targets that flopped scored nearly as well as designs against the ones that produced binders in quantity.
    — Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • In Bait, Ahmed stars as struggling actor Shah Latif, who flops in his audition to play James Bond and then becomes consumed by the quest to become the first Pakistani 007.
    — Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of flop
Noun
  • For King, this wasn’t her big return from suffering a cardiac event, which happened earlier this spring, but a return from a second unexpected setback — the 21-year-old broke her foot in April and required surgery.
    — Emily Olsen, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The incident was due to an engineering failure aboard the warship, the US 7th Fleet said in a statement to CNN, another setback as concerns mount over the heavy strain on the US Navy due to the Iran war and global commitments.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of setback
Verb
  • Bulk pitcher Erick Fedde allowed three hits, walked one and struck out two in four scoreless innings.
    — LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Nick Sogard hit his second career homer, Jake Bennett struck out six in seven innings and the Boston Red Sox came back to finish a sweep of the San Francisco Giants with a 5-4 win on Sunday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of strike out

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Cite this Entry

“Flameout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flameout. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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