belly flop 1 of 2

noun

Definition of belly flopnext
as in header

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

belly flop

2 of 2

verb

as in to plump

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

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 belly flop
Noun
To his credit, Johnson addressed the movie’s belly flop at the box office with candor and with maturity. — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 12 Nov. 2025 In Episode 2, wouldn’t tech-savvy Claudette have a proper iPhone case that would survive a three-story belly flop? — Nick Caruso, TVLine, 5 Sep. 2025 An early version of Starship tried to bleed off that kinetic energy with a kind of aerodynamic belly flop that ended in a catastrophic loss of control. — Adam Rogers, Scientific American, 21 Aug. 2025 In short, the potential for a legendary belly flop in season two was massive. — Joe Reid, Vulture, 15 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for belly flop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belly flop
  1. header
  2. plump
  3. drop
  4. plunk
  5. jackknife
  6. submerge
  7. spill
  8. dip
Noun
  • Baribo used his head to snag an assist on first-year defender Silvan Hefti's header in the fifth minute of stoppage time and DC United led 2-0 at halftime.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Lukas MacNaughton scored on a diving header in the seventh minute of first-half stoppage time and Roman Burki had five saves.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of header
Verb
  • The peptide and ceramide complex also doubles down on hydration while plumping the skin and softening the appearance of fine lines around the eyes.
    — Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Each treatment takes just 10 minutes, and the mask is said to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and plump up skin after eight weeks of consistent use.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of plump
Noun
  • With stimulus checks gone and student loan payments back, Maggiulli suggests the drop may partly be a return to normal.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • For instance, the company launched its bronzing drops because community members asked for them on a TikTok live, and created a pickle lip balm because pickles were a huge trend on social media.
    — Colleen McKown, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of drop
Verb
  • The bottoms are basically Molly’s baseball cap, which looks like a dome with a bill just plonked onto it, and Shannon’s wings, which the judges say are just a gingerbread cookie with some icing on it.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Dracula has been defeated for good, but his castle has plunked itself down in Paris and all sorts of demons — not to mention Joan of Arc — are on the loose.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of plunk
Noun
  • Rhodes eventually wiggled out of a jackknife cover and hit a Cross Rhodes, but Punk miraculously kicked out as the crowd erupted.
    — Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Spud led in points after two rounds with a repertoire that included 360-degree jams; a reverse double-pump; a straight-ahead double, and a jackknife.
    — Kevin Sherrington Feb. 10, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of jackknife
Verb
  • After submerging himself, Jay gets entangled in the tentacles of a giant squid, and that’s when the whale, who feeds on squid, pulls both Jay and the squid into his oversize gaping mouth.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Halfway through, Brill pulls out a machine that fills the stage with foam, submerging the actors in a cumulus of bubbles.
    — Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of submerge
Noun
  • There were no injuries, and there were no hazardous materials leaks or spills, CSX said.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • He was recently appointed to the board of Triumph Gulf Coast, which oversees how Florida spends money recovered for damage from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
    — Ed White, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of spill
Verb
  • Fashion designers are dipping couture in peat; memes on Instagram offer help choosing your bog witch name.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Denver Water recommends disconnecting garden hoses and shutting off outdoor faucets before temperatures dip below freezing.
    — Tori Mason, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of dip

Browse Nearby Words

bellyaching
belly flop
belly flopped
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Belly flop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belly%20flop. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All