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
-
Crucially, this is not an argument that campuses are obsolete.—
Ian Gibson,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Longtime breakfast staples like oatmeal and potatoes, which could take hours to prepare and cook, were suddenly obsolete.—
Heather Bushman,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 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
-
On June 16, 1989, 250,000 people gathered in Heroes’ Square for the ceremonial reburial of Imre Nagy, the prime minister who was executed after leading Hungary during the doomed 1956 revolution against the Soviets.—
Joshua Levine,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Apr. 2026
-
After a crash course in evangelical social media strategy and a hefty investment from her father-in-law, determined Natalie turns their doomed ranch — Caleb can’t stop killing cows — into a successful facsimile of the perfect life.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Rather remain archaic and barbaric than find a better option to give.—
Yesika Salgado,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
-
An American classic, the cover oddly archaic, blue, with disembodied eyes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Consumer staples is the only other down sector in April, lower by just 1%.—
Jason Gewirtz,
CNBC,
16 Apr. 2026
-
This should be a down-payment on funding for fighting addiction in Boston and beyond.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
15 Apr. 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
-
At the root of the problem are both antiquated technology and staffing issues.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
7 Apr. 2026
-
These antiquated institutions barely provide heat in the winter and cannot cool down in the summer.—
Steve Zeidman,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Crews have spent the last year fixing more than 700 broken streetlights.—
Adam Duxter,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
But after these funds dried up, schools have struggled to replace broken or outdated devices, which last on average less than a decade despite Google’s efforts to extend device life spans.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kaput.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kaput. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
