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flop 1 of 2

noun

Definition of flopnext
as in disaster
something that has failed the movie is such a flop that theaters showing it are the loneliest places in town

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

flop

2 of 2

verb

ˈfläp How to pronounce flop (audio)
1
as in to plop
to throw or set down clumsily or casually they lazily flopped themselves onto the couch to watch the game flopped the bag of groceries onto the counter

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2
as in to collapse
to be unsuccessful the attempt to run the ball into the end zone flopped, and our team lost by five points

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to flap
to move or cause to move with a striking motion a fish flopping around on the dock

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of flop
Noun
In order to meet 2026’s nostalgia quota, here’s a 28-years-later followup to the cult flop about margarita-loving sister witches starring Bullock and Nicole Kidman. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2026 After the Buckeyes topped the Longhorns, 14-7, in 2025, Manning was tabbed an automatic flop and Sayin destined to chart the path to another national title for OSU. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026
Verb
In this year’s mayoral primary, Raman raised less money than Bass and Pratt and flopped during their one debate against each other. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026 Nobody likes to see their sunflowers flopping over—and according to Nancy Awot-Traut, a horticulture specialist at Burpee, there can be several reasons why this happens. — Lauren Wellbank, Martha Stewart, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flop
  1. disaster
  2. plop
  3. collapse
  4. flap
  5. failure
  6. fold
  7. flutter
  8. bust
Noun
  • Los Angeles County officials aim to break ground on the new Eaton Canyon Nature Center before 2028, with plans to construct a facility that can withstand the region’s changing climate and future disasters.
    — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The Challenger disaster was of course the 1986 explosion of NASA’s eponymous space shuttle shortly after launch, which left all seven crew members dead.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of disaster
Verb
  • This is different to me than, say, a re-creation of the Eiffel Tower being plopped into Las Vegas, which is preying on replication as generic spectacle.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The party took over the many rooms of the hotel’s restaurant, where guests could plop into booths and enjoy passing french fries, or mingle with a martini near DJ Jade Croo.
    — Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 13 Sep. 2026
Definition of plop
Verb
  • Four American tourists died on Friday after a building collapsed due to a gas explosion in Athens, Greece, in a neighborhood near the Acropolis.
    — Carter Schroppe, The Washington Examiner, 27 Sep. 2026
  • The possibility -- even likelihood -- of some rickety old thing collapsing under me never occurred to me.
    — Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of collapse
Verb
  • That means the bird species flapping around in backyards today are effectively the only surviving dinosaurs.
    — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Real manta rays propel themselves by rhythmically flapping and undulating their enormous pectoral fins.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of flap
Noun
  • Repeating that process places significant stress on components, increasing operational and capital costs due to the risk of failure, maintenance requirements and downtime.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The driver, identified as 54-year-old Robert Delorenzo of Stratford, was arrested and charged with reckless driving, operating an unregistered motor vehicle and failure to stop on the right side of the road.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of failure
Verb
  • Measure 1 cup pancake mix and gently fold into bowl of wet ingredients until the dry is barely coated.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Thick fringe folded over the front of her face, mingling with her spider-leg lashes, which brushed the bottom of her brows.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of fold
Verb
  • The dress included a long train, which trailed the actress on the arrival carpet, and was further augmented by a shoulder ornament of fabric that transitioned from fluttering waves to delicate tassels.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Tribute upon floral tribute—their petals, leaves, and memorial cards fluttering in the gentle breeze.
    — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of flutter
Noun
  • Meta was considered a bust on AI except for the power angle, which is covered well by Entergy’s nuclear power plants.
    — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 27 Sep. 2026
  • The ensemble, loosely based on a design from Saint Laurent’s fall 2017 ready-to-wear collection, per Chali’s stylist Chris Horan, was crafted with a velvety fabric and a sheer element at the bust for a sensual edge.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of bust

Browse Nearby Words

floozy
flop
flop (down)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Flop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flop. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

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