IN THE LURCH Synonyms: 33 Similar and Opposite Words

in the lurch

adjective

Definition of in the lurch

as in susceptible

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Recent Examples of in the lurch Newsom and other opponents, like the California Teachers Association, said the measure is shortsighted and left public schools, childcare providers and others in the lurch by focusing almost solely on healthcare. — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 26 June 2026 That avoids leaving team members in the lurch while the person is out, Ackerman said. — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 8 June 2026 Rather than leave existing clients in the lurch, Lee allowed IDW to essentially inherit those accounts, allowing the fledgling business to become profitable within its first year of operation. — Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026 The chaos left students across the county — many of whom were in the midst of finals — in the lurch, wondering if their assignments could be turned in or would be postponed. — Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026 And Lake Station Community Schools Superintendent Tom Cripliver said the School Board is looking for alternatives so families aren’t left in the lurch when the new school year begins. — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026 Just as Musk left Oracle in the lurch, a LinkedIn message from OpenAI infrastructure chief Peter Hoeschele arrived in the inbox of a sales leader at Oracle, Bloomberg reported. — Elizabeth Lopatto, The Verge, 29 Apr. 2026 When pressed about the path forward with TSA agents and other workers left in the lurch, Murphy said Republicans, who control both chambers of Congress, are the ones who have rejected their proposals to provide immediate funding for the Transportation Security Administration. — Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026 Scant negotiations progress Last week, Congress failed to advance a DHS funding bill for the fifth time, leaving TSA, FEMA and other agencies in the lurch. — Luke Garrett, NPR, 22 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for in the lurch

Adjective

Those with preexisting conditions are most susceptible to serious illness from Vibrio vulnificus, the Louisiana Health Department said.

— Faris Tanyos, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
Although the precise mechanisms remain incompletely understood, evidence indicates that exposure to components of tick saliva stimulates the production of IgE antibodies against alpha-gal in susceptible individuals.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of susceptible

Adjective

The installations at the 500 delis were completed in April, but the city has not committed any additional funds towards equipping the thousands of bodegas that remain unprotected, Mateo said.

— Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026
How to see the eclipse Never look directly at the sun with unprotected eyes.

— Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of unprotected

Adjective

And the sport — players in uniform and executives in suits alike — all march toward the cliff in shackles of their own design, seemingly helpless to find a compromise.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2026
The helpless young tailor of twenty-one years of age had a keen nose.

— Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of helpless

Adjective

Back then, America feared an armada of Soviet bombers laden with A-bombs barreling over the horizon, dodging our few anti-aircraft batteries, and dropping their deadly payloads on undefended American cities.

— Barry Scott Zellen, Hartford Courant, 22 Jan. 2026
The lack of range of Coastal Command aircraft left an undefended area known as the Mid-Atlantic Gap, rendering merchant shipping and their escorts without air cover and vulnerable to attack.

— Mark Wood, TheWeek, 7 Jan. 2026

Definition of undefended

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in the know

in the lurch

in the nude

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Style

“In the lurch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/in%20the%20lurch. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of in the lurch

adjective

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