Synonyms of lemon

lemon

noun

ˈle-mən 

as in disaster

something that has failed

the used car he bought turned out to be a lemon, and he soon had trouble starting the thing

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disaster
• failure
• bust
• loser
• disappointment
• frost
• bomb
• catastrophe
• turkey
• flop
• washout
• miss
• mess
• clinker
• clunker
• shipwreck
• fiasco
• dud
• has-been
• fizzle
• dog
• debacle
• hash
• bummer
• muddle
• also-ran
• botch
• near miss
• shambles
• nonevent
• nonstarter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• success
• hit
• winner
• smash
• blockbuster
• phenomenon
• corker
• crackerjack
• dandy
• jim-dandy

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of lemon

Strain into a rocks glass; garnish with a lemon wheel and sprig of fresh sage. — Jillian Dara, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Add a splash of white wine, lemon juice, salt, and pepper, and cook a few minutes more until the broccoli is crisp-tender. — Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 July 2026

The Lavish Habits — gin or vodka with coconut cream, orange blossom, celery bitters, lemon and lime topped with a sprig of fresh dill, $15 — is my new favorite summer cocktail. — Beth Rankin, Denver Post, 27 July 2026

Stick to cleaners without ammonia and bleach that are food-safe, like vinegar and lemon juice, in case food comes into contact with those surfaces. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 26 July 2026