cropper

noun

Definition of croppernext
as in defeat
a falling short of one's goals more than a few people were glad to see the obnoxiously smug skater come a cropper at the national championships

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 cropper Two weeks after Alt’s ankle was mangled, depriving Herbert of his blindside protector, the quarterback and the offense came a cropper in a 30-6 blowout at Jacksonville in mid-November. — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026 More recently, soybean croppers were angered by the financial support lent to Argentina, which went on to ship large quantities of its own soybeans to China. — Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025 Still, with the disappointing box office of the first Horizon, the lack of Horizon II on the big screen, and third and fourth installments of Horizon looking as likely as a return of the Wild West itself, however this case ends up sorted, Costner may still come a cropper. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2025 In January, 1813, at York Castle, fourteen croppers stood trial for rioting and machine breaking, which Parliament had deemed a capital offense in the new Frame-Breaking Act. — John Cassidy, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cropper
  1. defeat
  2. failure
  3. collapse
  4. crash
Noun
  • De Fougerolles featured in all five of Canada’s World Cup matches, starting four, including in the co-hosts’ last-16 3-0 defeat against Morocco on July 4.
    — Tom Bogert, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The Tar Heels lost two NBA players in Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar from a team that lost in the round of 64 in March at the NCAA Tournament, a defeat that precipitated the firing of former men’s head coach Hubert Davis.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of defeat
Noun
  • The failures resulted in a divorce during the offseason and this exhibition game at Hard Rock Stadium was the first time the couple happened to be at the same place at the same time since the split.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • For five months, these players have underperformed, much to the chagrin of their front offices and the fans, who repeatedly boo their failures.
    — Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of failure
Noun
  • Escaping an energy collapse Things didn’t collapse as analysts feared at the beginning of the conflict.
    — Katie Silver, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The letter provides the most complete window into Kapoor’s thinking since the collapse of his company, Location Ventures, three years ago.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of collapse
Noun
  • Neither Woods nor the driver of the truck reported injuries from the crash.
    — Bob Harkins, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Steele previously approved an agreement in July which allowed prosecutors to review medical records related to Woods’ crash and arrest.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of crash

Phrases Containing cropper

Browse Nearby Words

cropped (up)
cropper
croppers
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Cite this Entry

“Cropper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cropper. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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