as in collapsing
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 flaming out
Swinging a big trade can be the difference in a team winning a championship or flaming out early in the playoffs.
—
Mike Barner, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Jack Harper, back working in his hometown after flaming out elsewhere, living as the responsible adult with an adorable little niece and her depressed, alcoholic mother, Zoe (Marin Ireland).
—Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
After the first two films, the series switched hands to seasoned parody veterans David Zucker and Pat Proft before flaming out with the fifth entry in 2013.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
The left side of their line is a huge question mark between tackle and guard, where Kingsley Suamataia might settle after flaming out at tackle.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
Mike Barner, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Jack Harper, back working in his hometown after flaming out elsewhere, living as the responsible adult with an adorable little niece and her depressed, alcoholic mother, Zoe (Marin Ireland).
—Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
After the first two films, the series switched hands to seasoned parody veterans David Zucker and Pat Proft before flaming out with the fifth entry in 2013.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
The left side of their line is a huge question mark between tackle and guard, where Kingsley Suamataia might settle after flaming out at tackle.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flaming out
Verb
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In September, federal investigators with the National Institute of Standards and Technology said in a statement the partial collapse of the previous tower likely began from the pool deck, which started collapsing before the rest of the building.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
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The second force is collapsing barriers to entry.—
Michael Jacobides,
Fortune,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Florida Justice Association — the trial lawyer lobby — spent millions to stop the reforms Maxwell now blames for failing consumers.—
David Wilson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
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The 2023 jury found the Berkshire utility liable for negligently failing to shut down power lines during a powerful windstorm, contributing to four separate wildfires that caused significant property damage.—
Alex Crippen,
CNBC,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The 6-foot-10 lefty allowed three runs — two scored on his throwing error — in a shaky first before settling down, and striking out four.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
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Chicago White Sox starter Shane Smith got the best of Gunnar Henderson in an epic 12-pitch at-bat with the bases loaded in the second inning on Tuesday, striking out the Baltimore Orioles star shortstop.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Magnus shook his head, his damp hair flopping against the back of his neck.—
Ben Mezrich,
Vanity Fair,
6 Apr. 2026
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And who knows — the Warriors might have won Sunday if Porziņģis hadn’t fallen prey to Alpren Sengun’s flopping.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Already McCue has observed an agave, a rosette shape succulent, folding and unfolding its leaves over the course of days.—
Alina Hartounian,
NPR,
20 Apr. 2026
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Instead of folding, as the Magic had done at various points throughout the regular season when faced with on-court adversity, Orlando responded with a 14-3 run to recapture a double-digit lead with three minutes left in the third frame.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Susan Butts Tiffani McInnis endured the typical teenage growing pains under the shadow of her mother's missing person investigation.—
Peter Van Sant,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
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The remains of one of his two daughters were still missing, believed to be trapped under rubble, as search operations concluded Saturday, three days after the attacks.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Andrew Tate is not washing out.—
Dan Adler,
Vanity Fair,
11 Mar. 2026
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Tiny water droplets can scatter light, washing out the vivid reds and oranges.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That leaves firms which relied on cheap, abundant credit during the low-rate era of 2010s and early 2020s more exposed, with weaker companies struggling to roll over debt or exit investments.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
20 Apr. 2026
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Despite Magic guard Desmond Bane, clearly under the weather, struggling from beyond the arc but still managing to contribute 17 points.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flaming out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flaming%20out. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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