as in failed
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 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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Both sides have tried and failed to advance their partisan priorities the last few months.—
Caroline Cummings,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
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Former administrators of Freidenrich’s office have said that her investments were too conservative and failed to generate adequate returns.—
Claire Wang,
Oc Register,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The comedy flopped at the box office, but Drop Dead Gorgeous proved ahead of its time — the movie cast Amy Adams in her first film role — and has since been declared a cult classic.—
Debby Wolfinsohn,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Apr. 2026
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Media companies a decade ago raced to engage young, bilingual Latinos by launching start-ups, including a joint venture between ABC News and Univision called Fusion that flopped.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Ten shots rang out, and Garrison collapsed on the floor, dead.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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The bodies of two workers trapped when a stairwell roof collapsed at a parking garage under construction in Philadelphia have been found, authorities announced Monday morning.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Timberwolves played without Julius Randle, who missed a second straight game with right hand soreness.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
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The next batter, Jacob Wilson, sent a slow roller past Senga right to Semien, who missed the ball completely.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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For years, the LAPD struggled to clear a decades-old backlog of untested rape kits that at one point ballooned in number to more than 6,100.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
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Kilmer, who died from throat cancer at 65, signed on to the project, but struggled with health issues once production began.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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News organizations elsewhere — including in the Caribbean — have faced layoffs, folded entirely or attempted to bring in new revenue by soliciting donations or adding paywalls to websites.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
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The loaf is topped with hot honey and features an explosion of pepperoni cups in the middle, along with marinara sauce, mozzarella, and more pepperoni folded into the dough.—
Joseph Erbentraut,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flunked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flunked. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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