as in flopping
to be unsuccessful
her intended comeback movie tanked at the box office, and once again she was relegated to TV guest spots
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Recent Examples of tanking
One example in Thursday’s indictment alleges that a co-conspirator told a bettor several Portland players would be sitting out a March 23, 2023, game as the Blazers were tanking for a better draft pick, allegedly leading to more than $100,000 in wagers that Portland would lose.
—
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 24 Oct. 2025
In the last few years, MLB, NFL, NCAA and the NBA all have examples of players who have been busted for either betting on games, or effectively tanking to affect a bet.
—Mac Engel
october 23, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2025
In the new show from Vince Gilligan, starring Better Call Saul’s Rhea Seehorn, one lady is tanking the energy of the entire world.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2025
In Chad Powers, new episodes available to stream Tuesdays on Hulu, Powell plays hotshot quarterback Russ Holliday, who disguises himself as the titular football player to join a new team after tanking his own college career.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025
Back in 2019 the Dolphins were intentionally tanking the team, trading quality players before the season and routinely inserting players claimed off the waiver wire into the lineup.
—Omar Kelly
updated October 19, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
The Wizards, Charlotte Hornets and Brooklyn Nets openly tanking are focusing on player development ahead of a strong 2026 draft.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
White’s probe confirmed allegations of tampering but didn’t find sufficient evidence of tanking.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 18 Sep. 2025
How the fear of missing out might be tanking your mental health.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 24 Oct. 2025
In the last few years, MLB, NFL, NCAA and the NBA all have examples of players who have been busted for either betting on games, or effectively tanking to affect a bet.
—Mac Engel
october 23, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2025
In the new show from Vince Gilligan, starring Better Call Saul’s Rhea Seehorn, one lady is tanking the energy of the entire world.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2025
In Chad Powers, new episodes available to stream Tuesdays on Hulu, Powell plays hotshot quarterback Russ Holliday, who disguises himself as the titular football player to join a new team after tanking his own college career.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025
Back in 2019 the Dolphins were intentionally tanking the team, trading quality players before the season and routinely inserting players claimed off the waiver wire into the lineup.
—Omar Kelly
updated October 19, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
The Wizards, Charlotte Hornets and Brooklyn Nets openly tanking are focusing on player development ahead of a strong 2026 draft.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
White’s probe confirmed allegations of tampering but didn’t find sufficient evidence of tanking.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 18 Sep. 2025
How the fear of missing out might be tanking your mental health.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tanking
Verb
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Van Gogh, now visually fitting in with his family, then scampered about his habitat with his ears flopping along with him.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
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With Ares flopping, the insider says Leto’s currency in town has run colder than Morbius’ vampire blood.—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Reservoirs supplying Tehran and other urban centers have dropped to critically low levels, while agricultural production in the nation’s most fertile regions is collapsing, threatening food security and rural livelihoods.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
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Dorzon had been shot 11 times and his girlfriend had also been hit, collapsing on the front lawn.—
Nicole Acosta,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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When a school receives five failing ratings, a 2015 Texas law requires the campus in question be closed or a state takeover of the entire district.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Nov. 2025
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Howe made three changes at half-time — Ramsey for Gordon, Osula for Woltemade, Schar for Krafth — but if anything, Newcastle regressed, failing to manage a shot on target between the 39th and 89th minute.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Vogue is folding Teen Vogue into its own site.—
Emma Hinchliffe,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
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With its shorter, non-folding collar, a mock neck gives you that same cozy feel as a turtleneck — without bunching or folding over.—
Jeaneen Russell,
PEOPLE,
1 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Advertisement Her victory also carries national implications for Democrats, who are struggling to chart a path between progressive energy and centrist caution ahead of the 2026 midterms.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
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Always Greener, which scored 15 nominations on the annual Brit List, is a high concept script that follows a struggling artist, haunted by past failure, who is given a one-in-a-million chance to become his rich and successful doppelganger from a parallel universe.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Police reportedly conducted a welfare check at Lucero’s home last Tuesday after Vallejos told a healthcare company his mother had been missing for about a week.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
3 Nov. 2025
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Some popular apps are missing, such as Apple Podcasts and Apple Music.—
Patrick George,
The Atlantic,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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An art conservator who'd prefer to be immersed in detail work, Sarah is bombing as the host of a dinner party where her entrepreneur husband (Tom Riley) hopes to impress an obnoxious prospective investor (Tom Goodman-Hill) when a literal explosive goes off in her neighborhood.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
29 Oct. 2025
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Trump has often expressed verbal frustration with Putin, accusing him of making positive diplomatic noises before bombing Ukrainian civilians again, but until now had avoided taking direct action.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tanking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tanking. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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