variants
also kaputt
1
2
as in obsolete
having passed its time of use or usefulness
hard-line Soviet-style Communism became kaput in Russia
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in malfunctioning
not being in working order
the heating system went kaput on the coldest day of the year
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of kaput
Her campaign was supposedly kaput.
—
Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Gunn tells Deadline, that The Authority is not kaput.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 27 Sep. 2025
Kelly Reilly, who plays Beth Dutton, seems adamant that the OG Yellowstone is kaput.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2024
Now all three of those competitors are kaput, felled by runs on deposits during the biggest banking crisis in a decade and a half.
—Rob Copeland, New York Times, 14 June 2023
The Stooges are now functionally kaput—of the original lineup, only Pop is left.
—Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2019
At least not on Sunday afternoon, nearly a full two days after the Clippers were supposed to be done, finished, as kaput as the Kings – those in Sacramento and Los Angeles.
—Jeff Miller, Orange County Register, 29 Apr. 2017
The damages for that less-than-brilliant marketing idea could be as much as $120 million, meaning the company as a whole is pretty much financially kaput.
—Susan Arendt, WIRED, 14 Mar. 2007
Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Gunn tells Deadline, that The Authority is not kaput.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 27 Sep. 2025
Kelly Reilly, who plays Beth Dutton, seems adamant that the OG Yellowstone is kaput.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2024
Now all three of those competitors are kaput, felled by runs on deposits during the biggest banking crisis in a decade and a half.
—Rob Copeland, New York Times, 14 June 2023
The Stooges are now functionally kaput—of the original lineup, only Pop is left.
—Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2019
At least not on Sunday afternoon, nearly a full two days after the Clippers were supposed to be done, finished, as kaput as the Kings – those in Sacramento and Los Angeles.
—Jeff Miller, Orange County Register, 29 Apr. 2017
The damages for that less-than-brilliant marketing idea could be as much as $120 million, meaning the company as a whole is pretty much financially kaput.
—Susan Arendt, WIRED, 14 Mar. 2007
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kaput
Adjective
-
Back then, an obsolete constitutional formula enabled as few as 12% of the people to elect a majority of state senators.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 May 2026
-
But in the lightning-fast tech industry, what’s cutting-edge today can become obsolete tomorrow.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
Despite the accomplishments, Artemis II astronauts had to contend with a more mundane problem -- a malfunctioning space toilet.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Despite the accomplishments, Artemis II astronauts had to contend with a more mundane problem — a malfunctioning space toilet.—
Marcia Dunn,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Researchers have identified the remains of four members of a doomed 19th century expedition in the Arctic by matching DNA to the sailors’ living descendants — and solved a case of mistaken identity along the way.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
-
Four years ago, while still a bankable name in commercial studio franchises, Woody Harrelson swanned effortlessly into the international arthouse, playing the Marxist captain of a doomed cruise liner in Swedish auteur Ruben Östlund’s second Palme d’Or winner Triangle of Sadness.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
Those archaic teams did not have lofty expectations like the ones that featured Simmons.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Doubled down with odd and archaic roster construction.—
Jannelle Moore,
Mercury News,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
If supply is down and demand is the same, that leaves prices nowhere to go but up.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
-
On the down side, there’s not a lot of history here.—
John Romano,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
His choices allow the viewer to drink in the intimate details of the ruined world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
New York’s antiquated assessment system values properties far below their market value and leaves a small number of apartments valued at $5 million or more.—
Robert Frank,
CNBC,
11 May 2026
-
Though Jordan and Tammy had raised their biological twins since they were born — and had the full support of their surrogate — they were required by antiquated state law to adopt their own babies.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
Daniel, who spent years in the plush comfort of Silicon Valley tech roles — unlimited PTO, big teams, no broken dryers — is logging something closer to 60 hours a week now, bouncing between laptop, factory floor, and a dairy farm eight miles up the road.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
15 May 2026
-
The court was told that Paul and her 10-month-old son were in one of the seven cars involved in the collision, resulting in the baby sustaining a broken leg, per Toronto Sun and CBC.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kaput.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kaput. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
