flunked

verb

past tense of flunk
as in failed
to be unsuccessful the movie flunks, both as entertainment and as a dramatization of a historical incident

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 flunked The Orioles flunked their 3rd rounder a few years ago and gave that money to their 17th rounder, Carter Young. — Keith Law, New York Times, 17 July 2026 John has just flunked the bar for the second time, and his job at the DA’s office — which has a three-strike policy — is in peril. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026 The company was born from the will of a man who grew up dirt-poor in Baltimore, flunked fifth grade, served in Vietnam and became a billionaire. — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026 Ultragenyx lost more than $1 billion in market value after its bone drug flunked late-stage clinical trials. — Amy Feldman, Forbes.com, 7 Jan. 2026 But, ultimately, the Rockies flunked, losing a 4-3 gut-puncher when the Mariners scored three runs in the eighth off relievers Juan Mejia and Victor Vodnik. — Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flunked
  1. failed
  2. flopped
  3. collapsed
  4. missed
  5. struggled
  6. folded
Verb
  • Critically, the owner of the footage failed to show any impact on the market for the footage and in fact had never licensed the footage for compensation.
    — Schuyler Moore, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Congress legalized home brewing in 1978 Occasional efforts in recent years to change the law failed to gain traction.
    — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of failed
Verb
  • Clarke’s first two films, with commercial distribution, flopped.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Both flopped — at Chelsea and Manchester United — with their fees widely viewed as excessive even at the time.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of flopped
Verb
  • The only difference is that, after this race, some of the competitors collapsed to the floor with sparks flying from their insides while safety officials charged over to attend to them with fire extinguishers.
    — Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • And since then, the government collapsed, and gang warfare has spread.
    — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of collapsed
Verb
  • Right tackle Luke Goedeke tore his plantar fascia and suffered a severe foot contusion, and missed six games.
    — Rick Stroud, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Bell, a fourth-round draft pick after his record-breaking senior year at UConn, missed the first two preseason games with a groin injury but starred in his debut against the Pittsburgh Steelers at the brand new Highmark Stadium on Thursday night.
    — Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of missed
Verb
  • Salas struggled offensively throughout 2024, missed almost all of 2025 because of a stress reaction in his back and plummeted on prospect lists as a result.
    — Dennis Lin, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Cuba’s daily grind takes its toll The day before classes started, Yurima Izaguirre struggled to pull up last year’s school uniform on the youngest of her three children.
    — Dánica Coto, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of struggled
Verb
  • Tired girl makeup looks poised to stick around, folded into a broader movement toward grunge, indie sleaze and deliberately unpolished beauty.
    — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The project, originally a standalone story, was folded into the new DCU and received an R-rating.
    — Mark Hughes, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of folded

Browse Nearby Words

flunk
flunked
flunkies
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Cite this Entry

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

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