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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
The movie, of course, was the 1975 flop turned cult hit The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and audiences came dressed as their favorite character. — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 26 Aug. 2026 The 1984 film was, however, considered a critical and commercial flop. — Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
Both flopped — at Chelsea and Manchester United — with their fees widely viewed as excessive even at the time. — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 Without that, analysts say Bessent's doomsday predictions for Iran will flop. — Frank Andrews, CBS News, 25 Aug. 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
  • Stagg, however, became convinced the day would be stormy – bringing swell and poor visibility that would spell disaster.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Nepal's disaster management agency said five more bodies were located in a different location and equipment was being sent to recover them.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 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
  • That pair, combined with the wider structure and personnel around them, ensure Leeds do not collapse when home sides like Brighton, predictably, lay it on thick.
    — Beren Cross, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Researchers believe volcanic activity triggered an underwater landslide and caused a large chunk of Anak Krakatau’s southwest slope to collapse and displace a large volume of water.
    — Tatan Syuflana, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of collapse
Verb
  • Above the dancers flapped a ring of American flags, each representing a military veteran from the community who had passed away.
    — Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Thanks in part to a National Science Foundation (NSF) fellowship, Drew explored several designs for flying and became interested in creating robots that flap their wings in a way similar to real-life creatures.
    — Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of flap
Noun
  • Their failure to receive one may be attributed to their having vague symptoms, such as a general feeling of malaise, weakness, or fluctuating muscle pain.
    — Jerome Groopman, The New York Review of Books, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Compounding the issue was UM’s failure to get to the quarterback.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of failure
Verb
  • The museum could clip the tapestry to a rail, then feed it into the paravent inch by inch; when the whole thing was transferred, the huge zigzag could be folded up—with the tapestry secured between layers of padding—then turned on its side.
    — John Phipps, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Bass has never lost an election and won’t easily fold, even as her first term has careened from one crisis to another.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of fold
Verb
  • Tribute upon floral tribute—their petals, leaves, and memorial cards fluttering in the gentle breeze.
    — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The first model emerged onto a sinuous runway in a nubuck coat paired with chiffon pants that fluttered in the breeze, revealing knee-high calfskin boots.
    — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of flutter
Noun
  • And that was before Aaron Donald, a three-time defensive player of the year, ended a two-year retirement to join a team about to embark on a boom-or-bust season.
    — Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • But for anyone disturbed by the way To Catch a Predator executes its faux-law enforcement busts, the movie risks becoming viscerally unpleasant.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 5 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 19 Sep. 2026.

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