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
All of it comes after a regular season marred by a tanking epidemic so widespread that Silver implemented new rules going into next season, an ongoing gambling saga and a controversy surrounding the LA Clippers and Kawhi Leonard.
—
Nick Friedell, New York Times, 17 June 2026
The danger is not limited to tanking.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 June 2026
On March 11, the Knicks were down by 18 points to a tanking Utah Jazz club — Clarkson’s former team.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 3 June 2026
If that reversal doesn’t happen, all options are on the table, Warner warned, including tanking a bipartisan deal to extend FISA Section 702, the person said.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 3 June 2026
Nuggets team president and KSE vice chairman Josh Kroenke was on the competition committee that mulled over various solutions to the years-long tanking epidemic.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 2 June 2026
That indicates, at least on the surface, totally tanking interest in the series when the first season hit #1 in its first full week of tracking and stayed in the top 10 for weeks.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
The vote Thursday fulfilled a promise from Commissioner Adam Silver, who vowed that the league — which has changed the lottery system about a half-dozen times in the last 40 or so years — would strongly address the tanking issue before next season.
—Tim Reynolds, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
The investor enthusiasm masks underperformance elsewhere; emerging market stocks are tanking if Asia’s three largest chipmakers are excluded.
—semafor.com, 29 May 2026
Nick Friedell, New York Times, 17 June 2026
The danger is not limited to tanking.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 June 2026
On March 11, the Knicks were down by 18 points to a tanking Utah Jazz club — Clarkson’s former team.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 3 June 2026
If that reversal doesn’t happen, all options are on the table, Warner warned, including tanking a bipartisan deal to extend FISA Section 702, the person said.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 3 June 2026
Nuggets team president and KSE vice chairman Josh Kroenke was on the competition committee that mulled over various solutions to the years-long tanking epidemic.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 2 June 2026
That indicates, at least on the surface, totally tanking interest in the series when the first season hit #1 in its first full week of tracking and stayed in the top 10 for weeks.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
The vote Thursday fulfilled a promise from Commissioner Adam Silver, who vowed that the league — which has changed the lottery system about a half-dozen times in the last 40 or so years — would strongly address the tanking issue before next season.
—Tim Reynolds, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
The investor enthusiasm masks underperformance elsewhere; emerging market stocks are tanking if Asia’s three largest chipmakers are excluded.
—semafor.com, 29 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tanking
Verb
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Plus, the minuscule fines, when they are applied, aren't going to deter millionaires from flopping to get cheap free throws.—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 2026
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Plant peonies in partial sun and stake them early to prevent flopping and extend bloom quality.—
Nadia Hassani,
The Spruce,
12 June 2026
Verb
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The finding lands in a labor market that has cooled without collapsing.—
Joe Toscano,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
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At one point, collapsing from sheer exhaustion.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
19 June 2026
Verb
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After failing to score with the bases loaded in the third, the Angels pulled away with four runs in the sixth.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
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The lower-than-normal system voltage from a weak battery, failing alternator, slipping belt or poor electrical connection can affect the electric power steering system.—
John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs And Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast,
Hartford Courant,
20 June 2026
Verb
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The officer followed inside and told Morales to leave, but Morales allegedly pulled out a folding knife and pointed it at the officer, according to police.—
Jose Fabian,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
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The keynote that launched the conference on Monday, June 8 set in motion a timetable which will culminate in the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and the first folding iPhone going on sale.—
David Phelan,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
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The two candidates also are offering differing solutions for the country’s struggling health system, ballooning public debt and entrenched corruption.—
Regina Garcia Cano,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2026
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The two candidates also are offering differing solutions for the country's struggling health system, ballooning public debt and entrenched corruption.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
Verb
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His one big lament was missing a 4-foot birdie putt on the final hole.—
Doug Ferguson,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
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Mexican authorities released missing person flyers for the couple, who lived in Chicago and Oak Park for decades, and moved to Mexico last fall.—
Charlie De Mar,
CBS News,
20 June 2026
Verb
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It was used in bombing missions during the current conflict between the US and Iran.—
Lauren Mascarenhas,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
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Cook, who is now retired and works in the private sector, became particularly incensed when the military began bombing boats in the Caribbean in September.—
Clint Smith,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tanking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tanking. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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