as in to fail
to be unsuccessful
the movie flunks, both as entertainment and as a dramatization of a historical incident
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flunk
Or the employee cafeteria in the chains’ corporate overlord’s headquarters flunking an inspection?
—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
20 Mar. 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
By the end of the eighth grade, Ben—now out as gay—was flunking every class.
—
Longreads,
3 Feb. 2026
To her, the fact that many vehicles are now flunking this test is, in some ways, a positive sign.
—
Camila Domonoske,
NPR,
3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flunk
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
20 Mar. 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
By the end of the eighth grade, Ben—now out as gay—was flunking every class.
—
Longreads,
3 Feb. 2026
To her, the fact that many vehicles are now flunking this test is, in some ways, a positive sign.
—
Camila Domonoske,
NPR,
3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flunk
Verb
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From 1994 to 2018, Mexico failed to win a World Cup knockout game and, in 2022, failed to advance past the group stage — its worst showing at a World Cup since 1978.
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Such a bond occurs when a judge grants a compassionate release for inmates who are in failing health and no longer a threat to the community.
Verb
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The camaraderie was evident on the ground here in La Guaira, the coastal city where quake damage was most severe, collapsing dozens of buildings.
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The dogs, specially trained to detect human scent, have spent days searching for people trapped beneath the rubble of nearly 200 buildings that collapsed following the two powerful back-to-back earthquakes.
Verb
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Brown has talked trash about Sixers center Joel Embiid and has accused him of flopping.
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Video shows Neil flopping his blubbery body around on the street, destroying fences and cuddling with traffic cones.
Verb
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In the early days, the page teemed with posts sharing objects found, along with heartfelt and, at times, gut-wrenching pleas for missing personal items.
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After making all six of his shots and four of his free throws on Friday, Lendeborg was 0 for 4 from the field and missed both of his foul shots in the first half.
Cite this Entry
“Flunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flunk. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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