as in disasters
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
1
2
as in collapses
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 flaps
to move or cause to move with a striking motion
a fish flopping around on the dock
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flops
Abby Dodge, CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025
But what happens when such a bold film flops, both critically and commercially, as Jarmusch’s, alas, did?
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
From financial wipeouts to baffling misreads of beloved source material, some of Hollywood’s most notorious flops began as video games.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 19 Dec. 2025
If Quinn Ewers gets a chance in December and flops, then go back to Tagovailoa.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 16 Dec. 2025
In the aftermath of the attack, strollers were left behind on the lawn, discarded as parents grabbed their children and ran, throwing off their flip flops, to flee the bullets and find shelter.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 15 Dec. 2025
Previous legal efforts, for example South Korean and Chinese laws banning video games at night, were found to be flops.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 15 Dec. 2025
Nintendo has its share of flops, failed experiments, and puzzling business decisions–as does every firm.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 5 Dec. 2025
Meanwhile, a string of box office flops led 20th Century Fox to sell off much of its backlot, just north of the 10 Freeway, to real estate developers in 1961, creating what would be Century City.
—Oren Peleg, HollywoodReporter, 9 Nov. 2025
Shawn Tully, Fortune, 29 Nov. 2025
Amina blows her mom a kiss and then flops down in her crib, pretending to be asleep.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
At one point, Alex comes over to recheck his map and, seeing Rizo attempt to analyze his work, flops over on the puzzle, causing Rizo to pause.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
Floridians normally wearing flip flops were bundled up to ring in the new year.
—Abby Dodge, CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025
But what happens when such a bold film flops, both critically and commercially, as Jarmusch’s, alas, did?
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
From financial wipeouts to baffling misreads of beloved source material, some of Hollywood’s most notorious flops began as video games.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 19 Dec. 2025
If Quinn Ewers gets a chance in December and flops, then go back to Tagovailoa.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 16 Dec. 2025
In the aftermath of the attack, strollers were left behind on the lawn, discarded as parents grabbed their children and ran, throwing off their flip flops, to flee the bullets and find shelter.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 15 Dec. 2025
Previous legal efforts, for example South Korean and Chinese laws banning video games at night, were found to be flops.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 15 Dec. 2025
Nintendo has its share of flops, failed experiments, and puzzling business decisions–as does every firm.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 5 Dec. 2025
Meanwhile, a string of box office flops led 20th Century Fox to sell off much of its backlot, just north of the 10 Freeway, to real estate developers in 1961, creating what would be Century City.
—Oren Peleg, HollywoodReporter, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
Fortunately for shareholders, the stock grants come with a feature similar to equity options that somewhat reduces Musk’s payday, especially in a case like the one above where the plan flops.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 29 Nov. 2025
Amina blows her mom a kiss and then flops down in her crib, pretending to be asleep.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
At one point, Alex comes over to recheck his map and, seeing Rizo attempt to analyze his work, flops over on the puzzle, causing Rizo to pause.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flops
Noun
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The Packers had seen their season end in two of the last three postseasons in part because of special teams disasters, and Saturday night was no different.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
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Overall, the nation suffered a staggering 23 separate weather and climate disasters in 2025, each of which cost over $1 billion in damages.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The individual then plops the turtle back down, taps its shell a few times, and walks away.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
25 Nov. 2025
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While some crew members focus on getting as much intel from the competition as possible — Nathan plops himself down on a step just behind the sundeck to listen in on a conversation between Joe and Brooke, the Harvard grad — others do some of their own matchmaking.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The trailer wastes little time establishing its pressure-cooker premise, quickly barricading five teenagers inside their high school as their hometown collapses into chaos.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
14 Jan. 2026
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Emergency crews work around the clock, but can only restore power for hours daily as high demand immediately collapses the fragile grid system.—
Vasilisa Stepanenko,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In the canonical metaphorical example, a butterfly flaps its wings in Brazil, and the cascading sequence of atmospheric perturbations leads to a tornado in Texas.—
Dan Garisto,
Scientific American,
22 Oct. 2025
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That goes for Jimmy Kimmel and for anybody who flaps their gums for a living.—
Jesse Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Any profession with life-and-death authority must be willing to confront its worst failures, not hide them.—
Dave Myers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
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For women now incarcerated at Mabel Bassett, those early decisions and missing records are not abstract failures, but the background against which their own cases were charged, tried, and judged.—
Stephen Martin,
Oklahoma Watch,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But don’t let any of that hinder you from seeing director/co-screenwriter Ryan Prows’ nutso horror movie, which also tosses some decidedly less effective social commentary onto the barbie.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
14 Jan. 2026
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Some lay them flat, others hang them up, and the last set tosses them into a bin.—
Jennifer Prince,
Southern Living,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The state’s latest energy plan fails to recognize and remedy this and portends a bleak, costly energy future, not to mention more pollution and higher health care costs.—
Anshul Gupta,
New York Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
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Holly added that any topic related to her wedding never fails to bring tears to her father's eyes.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel (center) flutters a Venezuelan and Cuban national flags in support of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in Havana.—
Kiki Intarasuwan,
CBS News,
3 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flops.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flops. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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