as in to die
to stop living
the patient was fading fast, and doctors expected him to flatline before the night was over
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Recent Examples of flatline
On the whole, Tesla has performed well financially, although its annual revenue growth has flatlined in recent years.
—
Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
Production flatlined, and employment declined.
—Paul S. Lavoie, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
At the same time, soda popularity flatlined and wellness culture ascended.
—Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 25 Feb. 2026
Data from the Census Bureau indicates that median wages for full-time male workers have essentially flatlined since 1973.
—Mark Robert Rank, The Conversation, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flatline
Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
Production flatlined, and employment declined.
—Paul S. Lavoie, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
At the same time, soda popularity flatlined and wellness culture ascended.
—Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 25 Feb. 2026
Data from the Census Bureau indicates that median wages for full-time male workers have essentially flatlined since 1973.
—Mark Robert Rank, The Conversation, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flatline
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flatline
Verb
-
Another hiker died on the same trail one week earlier after falling down a ravine, though officials haven’t clarified whether injuries or illness caused his death.—
Andrew Khouri,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
-
One of the owners told officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission that 31 other sloths, from Guyana and Peru, had died — either on the way to the attraction or after arriving and being stored over cold nights in a building with no heat or running water.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Huntington Beach fell behind early in the second set but continued to keep the set close before Fruerbringer’s kill gave the Mustangs a 16-11 lead.—
Lou Ponsi,
Oc Register,
10 May 2026
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After a jump ball, Miles chased down the ball at midcourt, started to drive and passed to Hof, whose layup at the buzzer did not fall.—
Mike Cook,
Twin Cities,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flatline.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flatline. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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