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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tanking
Verb
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Brown has talked trash about Sixers center Joel Embiid and has accused him of flopping.
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Video shows Neil flopping his blubbery body around on the street, destroying fences and cuddling with traffic cones.
Verb
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The camaraderie was evident on the ground here in La Guaira, the coastal city where quake damage was most severe, collapsing dozens of buildings.
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Unlike straw or lower-grade wool blends, beaver felt can be reworked without collapsing its structure, which is what allows hats to be reshaped by hand rather than stamped out of a mold.
Verb
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The Athletics beat the Dodgers 7-1 on Wednesday night, giving the West Sacramento team its only win of the series with the Dodgers, winners of the past two World Series, failing to secure a three-game sweep.
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Such a bond occurs when a judge grants a compassionate release for inmates who are in failing health and no longer a threat to the community.
Verb
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Before noon, families had folding chairs lined up along Highways 244 and 16A, in Keystone and Hill City, and not for any parade – just to look up nearly 12 hours from now.
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It can also be lifted using a folding slow-rebound grip that doesn't jarringly snap back down when released.
Verb
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Trump taking the country to war with Iran, in part at the urging of his pal Bibi — without any sensible plan, debate, sanction from Congress or consideration as to how this might hurt Americans already struggling to make ends meet.
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The rules were altered in 2004 at the urging of Algeria, which was struggling to field a competitive national team with wholly domestic players and saw dozens of better prospects from the diaspora living in France.
Verb
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In the early days, the page teemed with posts sharing objects found, along with heartfelt and, at times, gut-wrenching pleas for missing personal items.
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Buxton rejoined the Twins on Saturday after missing the team’s previous four games with a right hip impingement.
Verb
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French officials condemned the damage to the ancient monastery, comparing it to bombing Notre-Dame, while Ukrainian religious leaders called it a crime against humanity.
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Another bad fix bombing out the moment it was most needed.
Cite this Entry
“Tanking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tanking. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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