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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In the aftermath of that storm, Wu’s public works department failed to get rid of the snow fast enough to unclog side streets and sidewalks, leaving pedestrians and motorists navigating a dangerous situation in Boston for days.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
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The poll’s release comes just days after the California Democratic Party held its annual state convention in San Francisco last weekend where the party failed to unite behind a single candidate.—
Grace Hase,
Mercury News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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He and most of the Cluely staff were flopped on a single sofa.—
Sam Kriss,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
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But the new uniforms flopped spectacularly upon their debut in spring training, with players complaining that the jerseys looked cheap, felt papery and that the names on the back were too small.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The 175-foot-tall structure at the K West Reactor, roughly the height of a 17-story building, collapsed in seconds after explosives were triggered at its base.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Feb. 2026
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But as machines moved in, mining jobs dwindled and the local economy collapsed.—
Cecilia Vega,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Bremen missed a host of chances before Jovan Milošević scored from Romano Schmid’s cross in the 57th minute, and an own goal from Hennes Behrens in stoppage time confirmed Bremen’s first win after three defeats under new coach Daniel Thioune.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Feb. 2026
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Offensive struggles early for A&M, which has missed its first three attempts.—
Tony Catalina,
Austin American Statesman,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Reading proficiency has dipped 4 percentage points since 2019 as schools have struggled to make up for pandemic learning losses.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
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With Will Ireton in Japan for the World Baseball Classic, Sasaki’s substitute translator struggled with the media’s questions following Sasaki’s outing.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
26 Feb. 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,
25 Feb. 2026
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Finally, the vanilla and almond extracts are folded in, which give the cake its signature taste.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flunked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flunked. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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