as in fails
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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Recent Examples of flames out
Our dream of going back to the moon and onto Mars and more distant worlds—not least to ensure our species’ survival before the sun flames out and engulfs most of the solar system—can be seen as just one more step in evolution’s long march.
—
Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 22 Oct. 2025
Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 22 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flames out
Verb
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And if Congress fails to renew these tariffs by roughly August, the bank calculates nominal tariff levels would plummet to the mid-single digits, around 6% to 7%.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
23 Feb. 2026
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Woods fails to notice a ball mark in the line of his 4-foot birdie putt that would have won his third-round match against Nick O’Hern.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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When borrowing dries up, the scheme collapses.—
Les Rubin,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
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In his poems, letters lose limbs, words are mined, and grammar collapses under shelling.—
Alex Averbuch,
Literary Hub,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Fortunately for shareholders, the stock grants come with a feature similar to equity options that somewhat reduces Musk’s payday, especially in a case like the one above where the plan flops.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
29 Nov. 2025
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Amina blows her mom a kiss and then flops down in her crib, pretending to be asleep.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Perfect Tom strikes out once again, not on the look but on the flavors.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The key is to look for something that folds easily or is thin enough to slide behind a piece of furniture when not in use.—
Ashley Chalmers,
The Spruce,
26 Feb. 2026
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An oversized canopy folds down to almost entirely shade your kiddo from the sun.—
Erica Zazo,
Outside,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Page Six gets a Hollywood edition Papps declined last week to reveal what stories his reporters were chasing and what bombs the political columnists will throw in its first editions.—
Christopher Weber,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
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If Venezuela and its region instead spiral into chaos and suffering, Trump will merely look like a bully, a president who cowers when facing the mighty — in Moscow or Beijing, say — but bombs those who can’t return fire, whether in Nigeria, Yemen or Venezuela.—
Andreas Kluth,
Boston Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Mission Hills’ final six possessions of the half ended with two turnovers, three misses and hitting one of two free throws.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Feb. 2026
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There will conversely be penalties if the contractor misses the deadline.—
John Shumway,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As each assignee struggles under the weight of conscience, coercion, and fear, the darkly satirical story examines who draws society’s moral lines, who enforces them, and what happens when they are crossed under extreme pressure.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
27 Feb. 2026
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The defeat intensifies pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who already faced a leadership crisis and struggles with cost-of-living challenges.—
Jill Lawless,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flames out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flames%20out. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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