as in failed
to be unsuccessful
the movie flunks, both as entertainment and as a dramatization of a historical incident
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Recent Examples of flunked
John has just flunked the bar for the second time, and his job at the DA’s office — which has a three-strike policy — is in peril.
—
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026
The company was born from the will of a man who grew up dirt-poor in Baltimore, flunked fifth grade, served in Vietnam and became a billionaire.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026
Ultragenyx lost more than $1 billion in market value after its bone drug flunked late-stage clinical trials.
—Amy Feldman, Forbes.com, 7 Jan. 2026
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
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026
The company was born from the will of a man who grew up dirt-poor in Baltimore, flunked fifth grade, served in Vietnam and became a billionaire.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026
Ultragenyx lost more than $1 billion in market value after its bone drug flunked late-stage clinical trials.
—Amy Feldman, Forbes.com, 7 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flunked
Verb
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Parker said a subcontractor working at the parking garage was in the process of installing precast concrete flooring, decking and roofing segments, and one of them failed.—
Tom Dougherty,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
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The implication is that she got distracted and failed to notice the most important things.—
Brandy Jensen,
New Yorker,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Even their most consistent hitter of the year flopped in that spot on Sunday as Ramón Laureano went 0-for-5.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Apr. 2026
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Why Frederick Jackson Turner’s Frontier Thesis initially flopped.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As the operation collapsed, the messages show the men scrambling for protection and escape routes.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
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In August 2021, as Kabul collapsed and Afghans crowded the gates of Hamid Karzai International Airport, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin — then a Republican member of Congress from Oklahoma — tried to travel to Afghanistan.—
Peter Lucier,
Washington Post,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When the ball missed, the mascots howled with laughter; one of them, a big yellow mountain lion, pounded the ground.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
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The freshmen went back in forth, but Illinois missed its last three desperation attempts and UConn made five of its six free throws down the stretch.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The four-seam fastball was better, that’s something he’s struggled with the command of.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
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He was signed with Växjö in the SHL and dominated with their J20 team, but struggled early on in the season, resulting in a loan to Nybro in the second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan.—
Scott Wheeler,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The ground beef was chopped fine on the grill and folded together with sweet, softened onions and perfectly melted American cheese, all tucked into a soft roll with crisp lettuce and tomato for balance.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
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Romero said cities and counties should control development, but favors an annexation approach where portions of unincorporated areas are essentially folded into the city and its infrastructure.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flunked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flunked. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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