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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flatline
Neuromodulation is necessary for keeping the brain’s activity level in a functional range, preventing it from either flatlining or erupting in seizures.
—
Ingrid Wickelgren, Quanta Magazine, 30 Jan. 2026
Employee engagement has been in decline since 2020 and, over the past two years, has flatlined at 31% of US employees being actively engaged at work.
—Barnaby Lashbrooke, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
The scoring punch has flatlined.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
Unlike those of many other developed countries, its emissions are expected to flatline instead of decline.
—Justin Worland, Time, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flatline
Ingrid Wickelgren, Quanta Magazine, 30 Jan. 2026
Employee engagement has been in decline since 2020 and, over the past two years, has flatlined at 31% of US employees being actively engaged at work.
—Barnaby Lashbrooke, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
The scoring punch has flatlined.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
Unlike those of many other developed countries, its emissions are expected to flatline instead of decline.
—Justin Worland, Time, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flatline
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flatline
Verb
-
Twenty-three immigrants have already died in custody in the current fiscal year, putting it on pace to surpass the previous one, which had the highest number of deaths in immigration detention in decades.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2026
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He was transported to a nearby hospital and died from his injuries on March 10, officials said.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The team with the worst record can fall no lower than fifth in the draft while the team with the fourth-worst record can fall as far as eighth.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
15 Mar. 2026
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Midway through the third quarter, Ralston Valley pushed the ball in transition with the Jaguars falling slightly out of control.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flatline.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flatline. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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