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
Blame the tanking Blackhawks for that, but Toews’ personal results were brutal, too.
—
The Athletic Nhl, New York Times, 1 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
If the labor market is tanking or inflation is sticky next year, that won’t matter politically as long as workers still feel good about the economy.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 9 Sep. 2025
With job growth tanking and the economy wobbling, pressure is on for the Federal Reserve to start lowering interest rates, with markets now expecting a cut at each of the three remaining meetings this year.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2025
Not winning a playoff game despite tanking a season wasn’t enough.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
One source close to Christy says Sweeney remains a big star with enormous brand recognition, and that two small indie films tanking hasn’t hurt her career.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 29 Aug. 2025
In finance, the ability to scale without tanking your architecture is the difference between growth and game over.
—Bill Capuzzi, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
The Athletic Nhl, New York Times, 1 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
If the labor market is tanking or inflation is sticky next year, that won’t matter politically as long as workers still feel good about the economy.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 9 Sep. 2025
With job growth tanking and the economy wobbling, pressure is on for the Federal Reserve to start lowering interest rates, with markets now expecting a cut at each of the three remaining meetings this year.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2025
Not winning a playoff game despite tanking a season wasn’t enough.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
One source close to Christy says Sweeney remains a big star with enormous brand recognition, and that two small indie films tanking hasn’t hurt her career.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 29 Aug. 2025
In finance, the ability to scale without tanking your architecture is the difference between growth and game over.
—Bill Capuzzi, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tanking
Verb
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Splinter after splinter flopping onto the stone threshold, tsss, tsss, hissing like a nest of vipers.—
Zuzana Říhová,
Literary Hub,
26 Sep. 2025
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This Colombian has been flopping in the US since 2003, has apparently not had a job since 2014.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Those traditional systems are now collapsing alongside aquifers, and ancient settlements in Yazd in central Iran, Kerman in southeast Iran, and Khorasan in northeastern Iran have been abandoned as qanats dried up, aquifers caved in, and land subsided.—
Nik Kowsar,
Time,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Some of the homes now collapsing were once a few lots back from the beach, local residents told USA TODAY.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Most of the charges are for assaulting a federal law enforcement officer or failing to obey a lawful order, the district attorney’s office said in press releases.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Of course, everyone isn't innately open to failing or recovering from setbacks.—
Ashton Jackson,
CNBC,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But instead of folding in the face of adversity, Penix rose to the occasion and put together arguably the best performance of his career, which has seemingly given him a huge confidence boost moving forward.—
Reice Shipley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
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Hayslett dropped the news during her recent stop on The Breakfast Club, folding her growing empire into a platform designed to amplify Black voices.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Maybe new additions will boost a struggling position group.—
Antonio Morales,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The ever-paranoid Ally believes all of these headscratchers are part of a Trumpian conspiracy that's out to get her, but audiences were left struggling to connect the dots.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Information that was missing also caught the attention of the experts Joan consulted.—
Shaun McKinnon,
AZCentral.com,
30 Sep. 2025
-
But a chunk of the typical campus demographic was missing.—
David Ferrara,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Panthers’ special teams unit went from being the top of the class to bombing a big exam.—
Mike Kaye
September 28,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a Sovereign Nation and close Ally of the United States, that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker Peace, does not advance Israel or America's goals.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tanking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tanking. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.
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