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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for washouts
Noun
-
The next commissioner must prepare for more frequent disasters while managing long term coastal erosion.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The February 2021 freeze became one of the deadliest and costliest disasters in state history.—
Newsroom Meteorologist,
Houston Chronicle,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The city of Malibu sued the state and the city and county of Los Angeles and other entities on Wednesday, accusing them of various failures that led to the start and proliferation of the Palisades fire that destroyed hundreds of Malibu homes along with municipal facilities and infrastructure.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
19 Feb. 2026
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Federal regulators are shutting down more than 550 commercial driving schools nationwide after finding unqualified instructors, inadequate testing and other safety failures.—
Josh Funk,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
There is something disorienting about treading water as your date catalogues their personal disappointments, each one hitting like a splash from the diving board.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
10 Feb. 2026
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And captured the essence of a player who traveled a road filled with disappointments and setbacks but always believed in himself.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
While Scarry’s books present such catastrophes with bright colors and good humor, Gomez undermines this cheer by superimposing on the mural a nearly all-black painting of a desolate tent encampment in front of a home destroyed by the Eaton fire.—
Sharon Mizota,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
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Kennedy has made no bones about his misplaced skepticism of mRNA vaccines, pinging off the proliferating conspiracies around the COVID vaccines — incredible innovations that saved countless lives during one of the worst global catastrophes in recent memory.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The public and private markets have decided that infrastructure companies and the top model developers are the AI winners, while software companies are the likely losers, regardless of how strong their businesses may look today.—
Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Investors are starting to pick AI winners and losers.—
John Kell,
Fortune,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Of those, 15 were busts to some degree.—
Michael Salfino,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
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After the busts went, er, bust, a rental car company purchased Presidents Park and hired local builder Howard Hankins to help flatten it into a parking lot.—
Danielle Paquette The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Washouts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/washouts. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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