as in died
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 flatlined
Chase Brown had completely flatlined as a fantasy commodity before Flacco’s arrival, and Tee Higgins was approaching a similar status.
—
Andy Behrens, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
After administering chest compressions — during which Bennett flatlined — a doctor asked if the couple would be willing to put their son on life support.
—Greta Bjornson, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2025
Getty Images That upward trajectory stands in contrast to the United States, where life expectancy virtually flatlined during the 2010s and even dipped slightly on occasions during the 2010s—a trend blamed in large part on a surge in deaths from overdoses from the synthetic opioid fentanyl.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Multiple nations now have annihilation-level nuclear assets, and yet, even as the threat continues escalating, public concern has flatlined.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025
Our life expectancy has flatlined.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 17 Aug. 2025
Price growth has continued to pick up, employment growth in manufacturing has flatlined and other non-manufacturing sectors are feeling the pinch.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 7 Aug. 2025
Industrywide hiring has flatlined, and analysts expect brick-and-mortar operators to close more locations this year.
—Rob Wile, NBC News, 17 Mar. 2025
Three college students helped save a fellow student who flatlined three times, according to reports.
—Sam Gillette, People.com, 14 Mar. 2025
Andy Behrens, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
After administering chest compressions — during which Bennett flatlined — a doctor asked if the couple would be willing to put their son on life support.
—Greta Bjornson, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2025
Getty Images That upward trajectory stands in contrast to the United States, where life expectancy virtually flatlined during the 2010s and even dipped slightly on occasions during the 2010s—a trend blamed in large part on a surge in deaths from overdoses from the synthetic opioid fentanyl.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Multiple nations now have annihilation-level nuclear assets, and yet, even as the threat continues escalating, public concern has flatlined.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025
Our life expectancy has flatlined.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 17 Aug. 2025
Price growth has continued to pick up, employment growth in manufacturing has flatlined and other non-manufacturing sectors are feeling the pinch.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 7 Aug. 2025
Industrywide hiring has flatlined, and analysts expect brick-and-mortar operators to close more locations this year.
—Rob Wile, NBC News, 17 Mar. 2025
Three college students helped save a fellow student who flatlined three times, according to reports.
—Sam Gillette, People.com, 14 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flatlined
Verb
-
The 19-year-old driver of the SUV, Yaakov Kilberg, and the three 18-year-old passengers — Aharon Lebovits, Shlomo Cohen and Chaim Grossman — all died, the outlets reported.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
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Despite lifesaving measures, the man died from his injuries, according to Adger.—
Julie Mendes,
AZCentral.com,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The at-bats were brief and uneventful, the opposite of the approach that carried Toronto to this stage and felled Snell in Game 1.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
-
That says a lot about the 2025 Red Sox, who were a top offensive team in many metrics, but were also felled by their bats in crucial spots throughout the year and postseason.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Unfortunately, Castro-Rivera perished.—
Armando Garcia,
ABC News,
26 Oct. 2025
-
All told, hundreds of thousands perished.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flatlined.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flatlined. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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