variants
also kaputt
1
as in doomed
facing certain defeat, disaster, or death
once the Germans were forced to retreat from Stalingrad, the Nazi cause was kaput
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of kaput
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
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
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The Accelerating Skills Gap According to the World Economic Forum, 39% of current skills are expected to change or become obsolete by 2030.—
Ramiro Gonzalez Forcada,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
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The county, which has aggressively sought redevelopment of its aging and obsolete housing projects, did not request the proposal from Bakehouse.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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This type of technology has significant potential to disrupt and transform archaic IT infrastructure practices at healthcare organizations globally.—
Forbes.com,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
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How archaic tech, staff shortages and construction made a meltdown at Newark Airport The FAA has responded by trying to get more air traffic control students into the pipeline.—
Joel Rose,
NPR,
19 June 2025
Adjective
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The 30-year-old is coming off a down year in 2024, totaling 496 yards and two touchdowns in 10 appearances.—
Kevin McCormick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
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Through Friday, the stock had dropped 14% in 2025, on pace for its fifth down year in a row.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
23 June 2025
Adjective
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One is even housed in a former Old County Buffet, the now defunct all-you-can-eat restaurant chain which closed its last Illinois restaurant five years ago.—
Robert Channick,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2025
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Six years ago, two school executives from the now defunct A3 charter school were embroiled in controversy.—
Windi Eklund,
Oc Register,
17 June 2025
Adjective
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Additionally, there was no regulation preventing landings at Congonhas with an inoperative thrust reverser—even on rainy days. CENIPA, as a preventive agency, did not name those responsible.—
Isadora Wandermurem,
Time,
23 Apr. 2025
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While the thrust levers were the final straw, other contributing factors included the lack of regulations prohibiting landings at Congonhas Airport with an inoperative thrust reverser, especially under heavy rain conditions.—
Jordana Comiter,
People.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The sunk cost fallacy, for example, can lead companies to continue investing in maintaining a physical office space, despite the benefits of remote work.—
Dr. Gleb Tsipursky,
Forbes,
6 Feb. 2023
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The sunk cost fallacy is a bias that behavioral economists say can cause a person to stick with a losing investment.—
Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi,
Discover Magazine,
22 Mar. 2022
Adjective
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The aircraft was flying south when a malfunction caused the left engine to become inoperable, a Kansas Highway Patrol crash report said.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2025
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Under cross-examination by defense lawyer Teny Geragos, Gannon agreed that many of the firearms were wrapped up in tape, not loaded and thus inoperable.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
21 May 2025
Adjective
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However, by the second decade of the 21st century, neckties had become an endangered species.—
Kristopher Fraser,
Robb Report,
20 June 2025
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This method can help protect endangered species by helping to ensure that laws against wildlife trafficking are followed.—
Peter Kyne,
The Conversation,
16 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kaput.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kaput. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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