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
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
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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Winds reshape planetary models Earlier measurements also failed to account for Jupiter’s extreme winds, some of the most powerful in the solar system.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Feb. 2026
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But Ryan failed to develop an adequate plan for how the newspaper would thrive in a post-Trump environment.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Giants, who needed credibility after their last four full-time hires flopped, made a textbook decision in nabbing Harbaugh.—
Jerry Brewer,
New York Times,
2 Feb. 2026
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Boyfriend number two flopped right out of the league.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Photo by Anne Arundel County Fire Department In Harford County, crews rescued four cows, a bull and a horse after a barn collapsed.—
Mike Hellgren,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Sutton said Minneapolis policing has collapsed since the 2020 unrest, noting the city is authorized for about 900 officers but now has roughly 550, with only around 265 patrol officers available to police the entire city.—
Stepheny Price , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Colt Gray had enrolled at the school on August 14 and had already missed nine days of classes leading up to the shooting, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
8 Feb. 2026
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The reports involved an unknown individual calling several people purporting to be a law enforcement officer, falsely stating that the victims had outstanding warrants, had failed to appear for jury duty or missed a court appearance.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The victim got out and struggled with the suspect, and was able to disarm her, but suffered cuts during the incident.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
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Buffalo’s power play has struggled, but in the last couple of games, there have been signs of life.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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These small action figures, which can be physically folded and clicked into place, offer a brief break from the constant screen tapping many kids do at mealtimes.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
4 Feb. 2026
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When several landmasses collided to form the supercontinent Pangea long before the dinosaurs, Earth’s crust shattered into discrete blocks and folded like a rug pushed against a wall, rising to form mountains spanning from the Appalachians to the Atlas.—
Evan Howell,
Scientific American,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flunked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flunked. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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