as in failing
Related Words
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Dissimilar Words
as in collapsing
to be unsuccessful
the movie flunks, both as entertainment and as a dramatization of a historical incident
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flunking
Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
For its misleading omissions, the Times story deserves a flunking grade.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 2 Jan. 2026
Conservatives, with few exceptions, united behind her, arguing the controversy was an example of a left-wing instructor flunking a student over their Christian beliefs.
—Jo Yurcaba, NBC news, 14 Dec. 2025
The coursework was intense, and the two struggled, even flunking some classes.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 28 Nov. 2025
Like the Phillies, they were weakened by a key player — ex-Padre Jurickson Profar — being suspended 80 games for flunking a PED test.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
For its misleading omissions, the Times story deserves a flunking grade.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
For its misleading omissions, the Times story deserves a flunking grade.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 2 Jan. 2026
Conservatives, with few exceptions, united behind her, arguing the controversy was an example of a left-wing instructor flunking a student over their Christian beliefs.
—Jo Yurcaba, NBC news, 14 Dec. 2025
The coursework was intense, and the two struggled, even flunking some classes.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 28 Nov. 2025
Like the Phillies, they were weakened by a key player — ex-Padre Jurickson Profar — being suspended 80 games for flunking a PED test.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flunking
Adjective
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The state graded the campus an F for three consecutive years, meaning two more failing grades could trigger an intervention.—
Noah Alcala Bach,
San Antonio Express-News,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
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A number of buildings were seen collapsing in this wave of strikes on Friday as the death toll continues to rise, an ABC News team in Lebanon observed.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Mar. 2026
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What becomes cheap or free Khosla’s deflationary vision is built on a series of sectors collapsing in cost.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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So, is California’s unemployment market slogging along or flopping into a quagmire of job cuts?—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
4 Mar. 2026
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There was indeed something charming about these explosive Muppet looks, but is the woman who can afford Bottega Veneta really flopping around Art Basel, dinner parties and business meetings in such enormous clothes?—
Rachel Tashjian,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Cecil County Sheriff's Office is searching for the person responsible for speeding by a school bus on the right-hand side, narrowly missing two children who were getting on.—
Ashley Paul,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2026
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The youthful sounds of laughter and enthusiastic conversation were missing.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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No workers for mundane tasks Diez revealed that manufacturers worldwide are struggling to find laborers for highly repetitive physical tasks.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Mar. 2026
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Dogs generally aren’t allowed on cruises, but after struggling to find a flight that would allow pets in the cabin, Morris decided to bring Monty across the pond in the storied ocean liner’s kennels – one of the only ways cruise travelers' furry friends can sail the high seas.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flunking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flunking. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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