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
Will the current Supreme Court conclude that Trump’s tariffs also flunk it? N.C.L.A.
—
Cristian Farias, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2025
Charlotte Hornets The Mark Williams trade was a spectacular piece of opportunism that sadly went by the wayside when the Lakers flunked his physical, but give the Hornets points for nearly pulling that off.
—John Hollinger, The Athletic, 12 Feb. 2025
For the first time in his life, Kevin was flunking classes — bizarre for a math nerd and high school salutatorian.
—Ellen Barry, New York Times, 30 Dec. 2024
Of the thousands of flaws in the two reactors, four faults flunked ORNL’s initial simulations.
—IEEE Spectrum, 24 Nov. 2015
See All Example Sentences for flunk
Cristian Farias, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2025
Charlotte Hornets The Mark Williams trade was a spectacular piece of opportunism that sadly went by the wayside when the Lakers flunked his physical, but give the Hornets points for nearly pulling that off.
—John Hollinger, The Athletic, 12 Feb. 2025
For the first time in his life, Kevin was flunking classes — bizarre for a math nerd and high school salutatorian.
—Ellen Barry, New York Times, 30 Dec. 2024
Of the thousands of flaws in the two reactors, four faults flunked ORNL’s initial simulations.
—IEEE Spectrum, 24 Nov. 2015
See All Example Sentences for flunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flunk
Verb
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The 2-point conversion attempt failed, but the Packers cut the gap to 21-6.—
Frank Rajkowski,
Twin Cities,
27 Sep. 2025
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Lawsuits also allege Liberty Utilities and construction companies failed to mark gas lines properly and respond to the leak in time, resulting in the boys death, severe injuries and property damage.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In this scene, Vivian tries to teach Wil how to fall without hurting herself, as dancers do; of course, Wil only collapses to the ground when Vivian gets too close to her.—
James Factora,
Them.,
26 Sep. 2025
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All 67 people aboard both aircraft were killed as the plane and helicopter collapsed into the river below.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Splinter after splinter flopping onto the stone threshold, tsss, tsss, hissing like a nest of vipers.—
Zuzana Říhová,
Literary Hub,
26 Sep. 2025
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This Colombian has been flopping in the US since 2003, has apparently not had a job since 2014.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Evidence of damage includes chewed, cut or missing leaves; yellowing or brown leaves; white webbing and green-black excrement on or around the plant, according to the Ohio Department of Agriculture.—
Chad Murphy,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
2 Oct. 2025
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One bullet missed her eye and the other her brain by mere centimeters.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flunk. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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