DUD Synonyms: 180 Similar and Opposite Words

dud 1 of 2

noun

ˈdəd

Definition of dud

as in disaster

something that has failed our first attempt was a complete dud, so we had to start over

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in clothes

duds plural covering for the human body those are some pretty fancy duds you're wearing

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as in things

duds plural transportable items that one owns you have one hour to pack up your duds and clear out of here

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dud

2 of 2

adjective

as in defective

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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 dud

Noun

Since Teresa was a dud, Chanel Ayan volunteers instead, confident that this guy won’t be able to guess someone from her village. — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026 The latest offensive dud spoiled a defensive effort in which the Chargers limited Allen to 204 yards passing and being sacked four times. — ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026

Adjective

In a dud finale against the Detroit Lions in 1991, Wolford got rolled up and suffered a high-ankle sprain that hobbled him throughout the postseason. — Tim Graham, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2026 Duplass’ Michael is a dud, sorta sweet but totally spineless. — Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dud

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dud

Noun

Faizi said ambulances and disaster management personnel arrived from a nearby facility within five minutes of being alerted.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
For example, largely because of the environmental disaster that is Weikuang Dam, the country doesn’t permit the development or operation of stand-alone monazite mines—that is, mines where nothing is mined except monazite ore.

— Glenn Zorpette, IEEE Spectrum, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of disaster

Noun

Decodo, a web data company, tracked price changes in 2025 across products ranging from electronics to clothing and home improvement supplies.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
Travis Kelce reminded Chiefs fans on Sunday that one of his other day jobs is ambassador — and model — for preppy clothing brand Tommy Hilfiger.

— Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of clothing

Noun

Which brings us back to the list of things that lasted longer than Zacharia’s term as White House Press Secretary.

— Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026
The wide-leg pants keep things relaxed, and the ruched waist on the knit top adds shape and makes the whole look feel more polished than a standard sweatshirt set.

— Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of things

Adjective

Recent court cases have used similar arguments, framing social media to judges and jurors as defective products causing children harm.

— Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Trump’s successors will need to salvage his defective effort to help guide this transition.

— Charles Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of defective

Noun

The question confronting Israel and its international partners is not simply whether money should flow into Gaza, but also who controls it—and whether the next arrangement will avoid the failures of the last.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
Special-teams breakdowns — including a 70-yard kickoff return and two field-goal failures — played a big role in the Rams’ 37-34 overtime loss to Buffalo.

— Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of failure

Noun

Babydoll dresses in the spirit of the 1960s model Twiggy and their accompanying endless stretches of leg are another possible alternative.

— Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026
Popular comedian Antonis Kanakis poked fun at the 57-year-old’s flamboyant outfits in a skit posted online, donning a black wig and shimmering silver dress with a pink feather boa.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of dress

Noun

Even the stuff from the best Japanese markets (and a few chain sushi restaurants) will supply that familiar whiff to varying degrees.

— Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Meanwhile, Kate and Hal are mostly enjoying an interlude that Hal thinks is purely romantic, with a bit of work stuff sprinkled on top, and which Kate has designed as more of a half-and-half experience.

— Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of stuff

Adjective

But what an imaginative launching pad to interrogate the nature of greatness, the unsatisfactory acknowledgements of one’s own mediocrity, the seemingly unjust parceling out of genius from God.

— Doni Wilson, Houston Chronicle, 30 Sep. 2026
For City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, who represents Boyle Heights, the investigation’s conclusion was unsatisfactory.

— Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of unsatisfactory

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ducts

dud

dude

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Style

“Dud.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dud. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of dud

noun

adjective

Example Sentences

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