TANKING Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

tanking

verb

present participle of tank

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of tanking But everything changed after a 1954 Life Magazine article, which argued that literacy rates were tanking because children were bored with Dick and Jane primers. — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 11 July 2026 Uthmeier was previously the governor’s chief of staff and was entrusted to run DeSantis’ presidential campaign when his poll numbers were tanking. — Romy Ellenbogen Herald, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026 For the first time, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said in June that Cubans — either on the island or living abroad — could take over running the hotels for the government as part of a new flurry of reforms designed to rescue the tanking economy. — Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 6 July 2026 Critics of the network business say the successful production and distribution arm has kept ITV’s share price from tanking over recent years as the TV ad market fell away, though that is just one read of the situation. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 5 July 2026 The Wizards had the NBA’s worst record during the 2025-26 season and won the final draft lottery before a new system is implemented that dings the three teams with the worst records—part of the league’s efforts to deter tanking. — Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 23 June 2026 First Up SpaceX’s selloff stretched into a third day Monday, wiping out all of its growth following a record-setting IPO and tanking Elon Musk’s fortune by more than $300 billion. — Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026 The Orioles, after years of tanking to secure high draft picks, rebuilt around young position players. — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 18 June 2026 The danger is not limited to tanking. — Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tanking

Verb

However, tall varieties, which can reach 5 feet in height, should be staked to keep them upright and prevent them from flopping over nearby plants.

— Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 July 2026
Brown has talked trash about Sixers center Joel Embiid and has accused him of flopping.

— Mark Medina, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

Definition of flopping

Verb

The most recent fatality was on July 11, when a 64-year-old Greek hiker died after collapsing on a trail.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 July 2026
De la Fuente’s side are exceptional at counter-pressing — collapsing on to the ball to quickly regain possession and sustain their attack to suffocate the other team.

— Mark Carey, New York Times, 18 July 2026

Definition of collapsing

Verb

Plaintiffs alleged that the event promoters were negligent in failing to secure required permits, not providing adequate security or crowd control and misrepresenting the event as safe for families, according to the statement.

— Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026
He was revisited by a vague feeling of physical ineptitude that’d haunted him since childhood; failing to throw the ball properly on sports day at primary school, his father watching.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 July 2026

Definition of failing

Verb

Embracing New Capabilities And Categories The future with physical AI is not just a robot folding laundry or a mechanical arm performing parcel sorting in a warehouse.

— Beena Ammanath, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
This single, innovative component handles daily sun-tracking while also powering the protective folding sequence.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 17 July 2026

Definition of folding

Verb

Her family has been struggling after her husband lost his job as a motorcycle rider and crossed the border into neighboring Niger to look for work.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 July 2026
But he was lifted in the fourth inning, forcing Kotsay toward the team’s struggling bullpen earlier than expected.

— Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 18 July 2026

Definition of struggling

Verb

Celeste was reported missing by family and friends on several occasions, starting in early 2024.

— Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
The pair were first reported missing on Thursday, July 16, but had not actually been seen in person since a week prior on July 9, the RCMP said in its initial news release.

— Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 19 July 2026

Definition of missing

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tanking

tanks

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“Tanking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tanking. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of tanking

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