as in to fail
to be unsuccessful
the movie flunks, both as entertainment and as a dramatization of a historical incident
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flunk
The coursework was intense, and the two struggled, even flunking some classes.
—
Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 28 Nov. 2025
That brings us to the three candidates who didn’t necessarily flunk, some of whom even flirted with adulthood.
—Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 12 Oct. 2025
But, ultimately, the Rockies flunked, losing a 4-3 gut-puncher when the Mariners scored three runs in the eighth off relievers Juan Mejia and Victor Vodnik.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 24 Sep. 2025
Like the Phillies, they were weakened by a key player — ex-Padre Jurickson Profar — being suspended 80 games for flunking a PED test.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flunk
Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 28 Nov. 2025
That brings us to the three candidates who didn’t necessarily flunk, some of whom even flirted with adulthood.
—Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 12 Oct. 2025
But, ultimately, the Rockies flunked, losing a 4-3 gut-puncher when the Mariners scored three runs in the eighth off relievers Juan Mejia and Victor Vodnik.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 24 Sep. 2025
Like the Phillies, they were weakened by a key player — ex-Padre Jurickson Profar — being suspended 80 games for flunking a PED test.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flunk
Verb
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Missing a golden opportunity How the two primary people of the gold discovery in California failed to cash in.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
24 Jan. 2026
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Likewise, the sugars produced by the green leaves of a scion cannot be shared with the lower stem and roots of the plant if the graft fails.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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And after the 2008 financial crisis, a handful of institutions, including JPMorgan Chase, participated in shaping regulatory reforms aimed at strengthening the overall financial system—standing in contrast to firms that collapsed or resisted new oversight.—
Anjali Chaudhry,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
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Years of economic and social crisis, political repression, insecurity, and collapsing institutions forced millions of Venezuelans to leave their country and rebuild their lives abroad during Nicolás Maduro’s rule.—
Jhasua Razo,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Less successful were two other ’74 entries, the John Wayne cop drama McQ and the notorious Lucille Ball flop Mame.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
23 Jan. 2026
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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,
Kansas City Star,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
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De Ligt played 42 times for United last season and 90 minutes in each of United’s first 13 league games this season, but has missed the last 11 matches due to a back injury.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flunk. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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