as in folding
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1
as in plopping
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 collapsing
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 flapping
to move or cause to move with a striking motion
a fish flopping around on the dock
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flopping
Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2026
Waterfield's extra point was deflected, flopping low toward the uprights.
—CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
By a standard box-office calculus, such a low- to mid-seven-figure debut for a nonfiction film with $75 million in negative costs means Melania has little to no chance of avoiding flopping theatrically.
—Chris Lee, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
Stiller’s character attempts to match the athletic feat in a heated rage by climbing high and belly-flopping right onto a drum kit as the music powers on.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026
Perspectives 🏁 The viral video of a Kansas referee seemingly flopping during a high school girl’s basketball game is a bad look.
—Kansas City Star, 23 Jan. 2026
And the brands that are flopping are the ones that are too safe.
—Miles Socha, Footwear News, 19 Dec. 2025
If the main trunk of the jade has gotten wildly overgrown and is flopping over under its own weight, lop it off.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Dec. 2025
In the video, the mako shark bursts from the water and lands on the bow of the boat, flopping around before coming to rest near the front of the vessel.
—Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
The ponytails were flopping and the eyelashes were flapping at West Orange High on Saturday afternoon, but don’t think the girls participating in the first-ever Orlando All-American Exposure Camp weren’t just as intense as the boys from the morning session.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2026
Waterfield's extra point was deflected, flopping low toward the uprights.
—CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
By a standard box-office calculus, such a low- to mid-seven-figure debut for a nonfiction film with $75 million in negative costs means Melania has little to no chance of avoiding flopping theatrically.
—Chris Lee, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
Stiller’s character attempts to match the athletic feat in a heated rage by climbing high and belly-flopping right onto a drum kit as the music powers on.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026
Perspectives 🏁 The viral video of a Kansas referee seemingly flopping during a high school girl’s basketball game is a bad look.
—Kansas City Star, 23 Jan. 2026
And the brands that are flopping are the ones that are too safe.
—Miles Socha, Footwear News, 19 Dec. 2025
If the main trunk of the jade has gotten wildly overgrown and is flopping over under its own weight, lop it off.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Dec. 2025
In the video, the mako shark bursts from the water and lands on the bow of the boat, flopping around before coming to rest near the front of the vessel.
—Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flopping
Adjective
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The spatial geomagnetic sensing is achieved with a folding, extendable robotic arm that carries the Hidonix Acquisition Module, which includes the HEC (Hidonix Embedded Computer from Nvidia) that runs proprietary firmware designed for precise geomagnetic signal acquisition.—
Sabbir Rangwala,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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The first few generations of those devices had subpar cameras compared to standard, non-folding phones and a visible crease running down the middle, among other shortcomings.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Continue in the southerly direction, appreciating the gnarled coast live oaks and sound of shy red-eared sliders plopping off their logs into the water.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
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Oliver eliminates one pole-climbing threat by plopping a hat on his head, leading to a big fall — then takes this as an opportunity to evict his squatter.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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On even longer timescales, the remnant black holes that were created, whether from stellar explosions, neutron star mergers, a collapsing gas cloud, or having grown into supermassive behemoths, will all evaporate.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
20 Feb. 2026
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CDs were collapsing, streaming hadn’t yet found its footing, and most of the conversation centered on what was being lost.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Many readers will remember the MetaFly, a remote-control robotic insect that flies by actually flapping its wings.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
17 Feb. 2026
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Scheffler trailed by two strokes before unleashing a 6-iron on his 18th-hole approach, leaving just 2 feet, 7 inches for an eagle putt that was slightly complicated by wind gusts flapping his navy pants.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The atmosphere at Guard and Grace Guard and his team scanned cities nationwide for the right spot to open the next Guard and Grace, eventually tossing aside Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, Nashville and Miami in favor of Charlotte.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Feb. 2026
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To add more nuts to your diet, try tossing them in fruit bowls, salads, oatmeal, and more.—
Carrie Madormo,
Health,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The incident came to light after two DEA whistleblowers accused the agency of failing to address the allegations involving corruption in its Haiti operations.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
14 Feb. 2026
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As a result, the plaintiffs argued, the administration also violated the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 by failing to consider the harmful environmental impacts of the project.—
Safiyah Riddle,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The hand in motion, the fluttering scarf, the sparkling outfit.—
JD Barker,
Rolling Stone,
9 Feb. 2026
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Nothing sparks a team quite like killing off a five-on-three, and Canada scored in transition just 14 seconds after Fast was freed, as Kristin O’Neill batted in a fluttering Fast rebound for a 1-0 lead.—
Hailey Salvian,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The ad, which centers on a fictional family scouring their community for their missing dog, demonstrates how the Search Party feature activates neighboring Ring home cameras to be used in the search.—
Mason Leib,
ABC News,
14 Feb. 2026
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Young Heathcliff is missing a tooth, so when Heathcliff returns, Miller worked with prosthetic dental appliance creator Chris Lyons from Fangs Effects in the UK to fill the gap.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flopping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flopping. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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