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
Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026
So, Tom Steyer, welcome to the hall of infamy of filthy-rich flops.
—Garry South, Mercury News, 11 June 2026
And if they're caught rocking some flops in Cinque Terre, they won't just be outed as a fashion victim.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 11 June 2026
For a quick outfit, pair a linen pant with a matching linen shirt and dress down with flat sandals or flip flops.
—ABC News, 9 June 2026
Shop Quince Supportive Sandals While sleek flip flops and colorful sneakers are already dominating the trend cycle this season, Jennifer Lawrence is proving that a classic buckle sandal still deserves a spot in your summer shoe rotation.
—Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026
She was joined by her sister, Khloe, who wore a simple black tank top paired with black capris and flip flops.
—Meg Walters, InStyle, 6 June 2026
Though Netflix ultimately publishes a data dump of all its viewership data across a six month span, its weekly lists inherently prop up Netflix’s (many) wins and hide its flops, even when Bloomberg not long ago reported that Netflix had one of its lowest viewing weeks ever recently.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 3 June 2026
While lounging poolside, expect to see everything from O’Neill board shorts and Havaianas flip flops to Aqua Bendita sarong wraps and Christian Dior raffia totes.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Devon Henderson, New York Times, 4 May 2026
One of the best bigs in [expletive] basketball history flops.
—Matt Schooley, CBS News, 4 May 2026
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
Noun
As for the review process, the NBA could limit reviews to shooting fouls resulting in free throws, potential sixth fouls, last two minutes of games, and allow coach's challenges for flops.
—Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026
So, Tom Steyer, welcome to the hall of infamy of filthy-rich flops.
—Garry South, Mercury News, 11 June 2026
And if they're caught rocking some flops in Cinque Terre, they won't just be outed as a fashion victim.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 11 June 2026
For a quick outfit, pair a linen pant with a matching linen shirt and dress down with flat sandals or flip flops.
—ABC News, 9 June 2026
Shop Quince Supportive Sandals While sleek flip flops and colorful sneakers are already dominating the trend cycle this season, Jennifer Lawrence is proving that a classic buckle sandal still deserves a spot in your summer shoe rotation.
—Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026
She was joined by her sister, Khloe, who wore a simple black tank top paired with black capris and flip flops.
—Meg Walters, InStyle, 6 June 2026
Though Netflix ultimately publishes a data dump of all its viewership data across a six month span, its weekly lists inherently prop up Netflix’s (many) wins and hide its flops, even when Bloomberg not long ago reported that Netflix had one of its lowest viewing weeks ever recently.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 3 June 2026
While lounging poolside, expect to see everything from O’Neill board shorts and Havaianas flip flops to Aqua Bendita sarong wraps and Christian Dior raffia totes.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Verb
Joel Embiid is a great player, one of the best bigs in f—ing basketball history, flops.
—Devon Henderson, New York Times, 4 May 2026
One of the best bigs in [expletive] basketball history flops.
—Matt Schooley, CBS News, 4 May 2026
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
-
Many more chemical incidents in the commonwealth have not been examined by the agency, which generally allocates its small staff to the country's most high-profile disasters.—
Ruby Grisin,
The Courier-Journal,
19 Aug. 2025
-
Some of our existing housing stock will be demolished or destroyed by fire or other disasters.—
Bill Conerly,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The individual then plops the turtle back down, taps its shell a few times, and walks away.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
25 Nov. 2025
-
Outside, seagulls squawk; a crane lifts sand and plops it on a boat.—
Hannah Martin,
Architectural Digest,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
There’s an even bigger problem, though—Charlie collapses on the floor in pain, alone in the office, as the season ends.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
10 June 2026
-
Seconds later, without receiving help or any visible concern from other train passengers, Zarutska collapses to the train floor, where she was later pronounced dead.—
Mirna Alsharif,
NBC news,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Upping the supernatural Hammer horror effect of Skrilla’s Zombie Love Kensington Paradise, Happy randomly flaps his lips, shifts his pitch and the tempo of his flow, and sounds like a disembodied voice rapping from inside of a suffocating fog.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
11 Dec. 2025
-
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
Noun
-
Vallejo’s Broadway Project finished years late and massively over budget after contractor failures and internal disputes.—
Michele Steeb,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
-
But most of its failures are subtler, more insidious.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
At The Happy Crane, Parry gives the char siu treatment to rich Iberico pork jowl, steams and grinds his own rice for the crab rice roll, and tosses Monterey abalone and Jimmy Nardello peppers into a smoking wok with XO sauce.—
Becky Duffett,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
8 June 2026
-
The Royals suffered another crushing defeat and are now 16-15 in 2026 when their pitcher tosses a quality start.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Sunday under a law that generally applies when a driver fails to obey an official traffic-control device.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
15 June 2026
-
The burn fails, but the capsule has just enough inertia to be drawn to Earth once again.—
Neil Oseman,
Space.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Each time, a new furnishing, a new nail to pin down the wings of a truth that flutters just out of reach.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flops.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flops. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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