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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
No coastal escape is complete without flip-flops, and the KuaiLu Flip-flops from Amazon are no exception. — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 21 July 2026 His play was a welcome change after his recent major-tournament flops. — Chris Branch, New York Times, 17 July 2026
Verb
This cordless lamp comes in four warm neutrals, and all feature a ceramic shade that flops over its base like pastry dough. — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 15 July 2026 Cece went into her room, flopped onto her bed, and pulled up her text thread with Tomo. — Jessica Contrera, New Yorker, 13 July 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
  • The whole administration of the capital is threatened by this disaster.
    — Andrei Popoviciu, The Dial, 23 July 2026
  • But simply hoping things will bounce back is a recipe for disaster.
    — Chris Adams, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of disaster
Verb
  • An 82-year-old Italian woman who isn't plopping herself in a chair and knitting sweaters all day long.
    — Sean Joseph OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2026
  • Rather than just trimming stems and plopping them in a vase, reflexing plays with the form of the flower by gently folding petals backwards to open up the bloom.
    — Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 18 July 2026
Definition of plop
Verb
  • Chuanjun warned that heavy rain and extreme weather conditions could put additional areas alongside the mountain near the initial landslide at risk of collapsing.
    — Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 19 July 2026
  • By the time his candidacy collapsed, the time required to mount an effective alternative had largely disappeared.
    — Michael Sonnenfeldt, Fortune, 19 July 2026
Definition of collapse
Verb
  • Maybe the manager didn’t feel like flapping their arms to dry them, seeing as how the cookline handwash sink didn’t have paper towels or a blower.
    — David J. Neal July 24, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026
  • Generally, to be considered autistic, a person must have exhibited social difficulties and repetitive behaviors—such as hand-flapping and spinning—from before the age of 5.
    — Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026
Definition of flap
Noun
  • The letter argues that openness prevents lock-in and that concentrating capability creates single points of failure.
    — Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
  • For Luis Javier Santos, the former head of UFERCO who investigated the case against Hernández, the former leader’s return represents a failure to prosecute him for his crimes, rather than a chance for justice.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 July 2026
Definition of failure
Verb
  • Muhammad Saidov announced himself with a head kick that folded Dustin Jacoby, and Sam Patterson bullied veteran Santiago Ponzinibbio before finishing him in the second.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
  • Faced with the strong likelihood that the tapes would be released, the Biden team decided to fold its tent, and turn over the tapes and papers to the Heritage Foundation.
    — Nina Totenberg, NPR, 25 July 2026
Definition of fold
Verb
  • This isn't the first time a butterfly motif has fluttered, so to speak, into Larsson's glam routine.
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 6 July 2026
  • Just thinking of what his subjects, used to the continuity of antiquity, might have made of this makes the heart flutter.
    — Chandrahas Choudhury, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 July 2026
Definition of flutter
Noun
  • For his first ten years as a professional, Messi was regarded as something of a bust at the international level.
    — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
  • The other money factor is that podcasting’s boom cycle around 2019 inevitably turned into a bust cycle several years later.
    — Frank Racioppi, Forbes.com, 20 July 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 26 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on flop

Nglish: Translation of flop for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of aerie

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
chain-question-mark
Missing Link Quiz July 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All