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

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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 There has been chatter about teams tanking to avoid being elevated to the Open Division. — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026 A lot of teams at the bottom might be tanking for Arch Manning, and there is no real new blood at quarterback this season. — Vic Tafur, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026 During the 1996–97 season, for example, the Boston Celtics went 15–67 and effectively admitted to tanking for the right to draft Tim Duncan. — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2026 Data centers are becoming the political flash point of the midterms as candidates race to respond to tanking public opinion. — Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026 However, some traders appeared unconvinced by the company’s plans, with its stock tanking almost 10% in trading on Monday, its steepest single-day drop in more than a year. — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 24 Aug. 2026 Smoke from these blazes is also tanking air quality in parts of the Northwest. — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026 The Athletics have just two more wins than the Angels and are also tanking. — David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026 And that’s good, because there is zero indication the new leadership will be tanking, and good reason to think the Dolphins may be ‘over’ the betting over/under of 4 1/2 victories. — Greg Cote july 27, Miami Herald, 27 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tanking

Verb

While offensive players are often chastised for flopping in an attempt to get free throws, every clip in the NBA’s four-minute video about flopping focused on defensive players.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026
Because the flopping infraction carries no suspension, George remains fully cleared to suit up Friday when Boston hosts his former team, the Philadelphia 76ers.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of flopping

Verb

Your skeleton has a demanding day job, pumping out fresh new blood cells and serving as a mineral bank for calcium, not to mention keeping your head up and preventing your organs from collapsing into a disappointing puddle.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026
The episode moves through the housing crash by following a chain of people relevant to the market collapsing.

— Cooper Katz McKim, NPR, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of collapsing

Verb

Resolution allows regulators to transfer a failing bank's deposits to other institutions before liquidating its remaining assets.

— EMILIO SANABRIA, Arkansas Online, 4 Nov. 2026
Voters narrowly backed a change to Miami-Dade’s charter that could clear the way for county commissioners to receive higher salaries, ending the county’s history of potential pay raises failing at the ballot box.

— Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of failing

Verb

The shift is tied to broader wellness behavior, with younger consumers folding emotional well-being into daily self-care.

— Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 6 Nov. 2026
However, neither rating guarantees that a folding screen or hinge will survive years of rough treatment.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of folding

Verb

Florida was struggling under interim coach Billy Gonzales, a longtime Meyer assistant, and the Gators failed to carry any emotion into a 31-11 loss as the Vols’ ended two-decade drought in Swamp.

— Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2026
The outlet suggested Lively and Reynolds were putting on a brave face for the cameras but struggling behind-the-scenes.

— Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of struggling

Verb

Rice has played in five games for the Chiefs this season, missing two with a hamstring injury.

— Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 6 Nov. 2026
Those of us missing the John Wick universe can take heart, because Chad Stahelski—who created that franchise—is coming back early next year with a new dystopian action film.

— Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of missing

Verb

Russia has been bombing Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, forcing Ukraine to rely increasingly on river ports on the Danube and shipping routes close to the coasts of NATO members Bulgaria and Romania.

— Reuters, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2026
The United States began bombing Iran on February 28 with the goal of destroying the country’s nuclear program, its missile program, and even its government, only to fail spectacularly at each objective.

— Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of bombing

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tanking

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“Tanking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tanking. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of tanking

verb

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