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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The Shift from Profit to Purpose While most companies are in the business of making money, history shows that greed as a business strategy often fails.—
Serenity Gibbons,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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And if all else fails, throw a boneless rib eye or skirt steak in the freezer until firm and use a sharp knife to slice it yourself.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The video ends as Chakraborty collapses onto a couch and groans in pain with the officer continuing to yell at him to drop the knife.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
4 Feb. 2026
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Perhaps owner Bob Nutting will intercede and order general manager Ben Cherington to sign McCutchen, fearing yet another public relations nightmare if the team’s relationship with a franchise legend collapses.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
3 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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Precise placement is possible using DNA origami, which folds DNA into nanoscale shapes to guide molecules into position.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Jan. 2026
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Once the tent is deflated, the owner folds the floor back inside and closes the roof.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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
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Above, South Lake Tahoe ripper Emma Dayberry bombs through Kirkwood’s fabled Finger chutes, a quick traverse off of the Cornice Express six-pack chairlift.—
Drew Zieff,
Outside,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Right-back is an area that would look weak if Matheus Nunes misses a few games, which is not a sentence anybody would have expected to read a year ago, but the former midfielder has excelled in defence.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
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Josh Giddey misses All-Star selection Despite raising hopes for a first-time selection with his early-season performance, Josh Giddey was not selected for this year’s All-Star game.—
Colleen Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As luxury struggles to woo a young generation of consumers who have not yet accumulated enough wealth to drop five figures on a handbag, the cohort of twentysomethings has instead become enamored with more affordable fitness activities.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
6 Feb. 2026
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Karlic also struggles with strictly online classes, further limiting his options.—
Olivia Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flames out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flames%20out. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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