as in disasters
something that has failed
the fashion designer's last showing was a complete washout
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Recent Examples of washouts
On the other hand, cool‑season sod farmers usually grow Kentucky bluegrass, which germinates slowly compared to other turfgrass species, increasing the risk of washouts.
—
Ryan Bearss, The Conversation, 20 Apr. 2026
Expectations going up after two straight Playoff washouts.
—Jason Kirk, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2026
In optimal conditions, most vehicles can make it, but high clearance is strongly recommended—especially in winter and after storms, when washouts, flooding, or snow accumulation are possible.
—Taryn Shorr-McKee, Travel + Leisure, 12 Jan. 2026
Record-breaking rains have caused catastrophic washouts, mudslides, and emergency declarations across Washington and northwestern Montana.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 17 Dec. 2025
The storm also left people trapped in seven vehicles on nearby roads after overflowing creeks caused washouts, deputies said.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 9 Sep. 2025
The agency expects to hire 8,900 new air traffic controllers by 2028, but because of factors like attrition, retirements and program washouts, this will only result in 1,000 more certified controllers, according to FAA documents.
—Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
There are multiple township road closures and washouts in northern Grant County.
—Ben Steele, jsonline.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Ryan Bearss, The Conversation, 20 Apr. 2026
Expectations going up after two straight Playoff washouts.
—Jason Kirk, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2026
In optimal conditions, most vehicles can make it, but high clearance is strongly recommended—especially in winter and after storms, when washouts, flooding, or snow accumulation are possible.
—Taryn Shorr-McKee, Travel + Leisure, 12 Jan. 2026
Record-breaking rains have caused catastrophic washouts, mudslides, and emergency declarations across Washington and northwestern Montana.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 17 Dec. 2025
The storm also left people trapped in seven vehicles on nearby roads after overflowing creeks caused washouts, deputies said.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 9 Sep. 2025
The agency expects to hire 8,900 new air traffic controllers by 2028, but because of factors like attrition, retirements and program washouts, this will only result in 1,000 more certified controllers, according to FAA documents.
—Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
There are multiple township road closures and washouts in northern Grant County.
—Ben Steele, jsonline.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for washouts
Noun
-
Trump has expressed a desire to push more responsibility for disasters down to states.—
Gabriela Aoun Angueira,
Fortune,
11 Apr. 2026
-
His boldest innovation is to invoke not past glories but past disasters, summoning the ghosts of the United States’ catastrophic interventions in Iraq.—
Fintan O’Toole,
The New York Review of Books,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
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More recently, fans trying to buy tickets for major tours, like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, BTS, Bruce Springsteen, and Harry Styles have faced sky-high prices, system failures, and a lack of real alternatives.—
Letitia James,
Rolling Stone,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Interestingly, the device proved highly successful, showing no safety issues or failures across all eight patients.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Have there been any disappointments?—
Caroline Mimbs Nyce,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Mirroring the changing trends of the time, the Puente albums were commercial disappointments.—
Ernesto Lechner,
Rolling Stone,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But although the two films have imminent solar catastrophes at their core, their approaches to saving the world from extreme global cooling are radically different.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Shaboozey doesn’t identify as a poli-sci expert but could still acknowledge human-rights catastrophes.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There were many losers in Virginia’s vote to approve a gerrymandered, Democratic map.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
22 Apr. 2026
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But whether there are any clear winners or losers at this juncture in the broader redistricting picture may be a little more complicated.—
Oren Oppenheim,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Multicoin, especially, has been at the whims of crypto’s booms and busts.—
Ben Weiss,
Fortune,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Portrait busts and diminutive figures—some barely bigger than a pin—served as vectors of constructive uncertainty.—
Ara H. Merjian,
ARTnews.com,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Washouts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/washouts. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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