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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But, still, Tannahill gets us to wonder: Why are so many romance novels written about an obsolete nobility?—
Helen Shaw,
New Yorker,
26 June 2025
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Far from making human expertise obsolete, AI is increasing the value of experience, judgment and leadership in software development.—
Sebastian Avila,
Forbes.com,
26 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
-
Swing down bed rails are great when getting in and out of bed or changing sheets.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
7 July 2025
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With a down year in the rearview, Prescott and the Cowboys are looking forward to having a clean slate soon.—
Justin Grasso,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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And as if trying to recreate a defunct style of filmmaking wasn’t hard enough, Soderbergh also decided to be his own cinematographer and editor, going under the pseudonyms of Peter Andrews and Mary Ann Bernard.—
Josh Weiss,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
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Authorities have attributed the attacks to dissident factions of the defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), led by Iván Mordisco.—
Sonia Osorio,
Miami Herald,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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Several election ballot scanners are currently inoperative at multiple polling locations in Cambria County in Pennsylvania.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2024
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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
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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An inoperable mass in her brain—she’d survived six months.—
Jhumpa Lahiri,
New Yorker,
30 June 2025
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But if an inspector visits an inoperable charger, Wilkinson said her agency would take action, notifying the operator and requiring fixes.—
Christine Condon,
Baltimore Sun,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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Cars passing by honked in support as protesters waved signs calling for the protection of the expansive preserve that is home to a few Native tribes and several endangered animal species.—
Makiya Seminera,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2025
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Passing cars honked in support while protesters waved signs calling for the preservation of the expansive Everglades preserve, home to several endangered species and Native tribes.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kaput.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kaput. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
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