flunking 1 of 2

adjective

as in failing

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flunking

2 of 2

verb

present participle of flunk
as in collapsing
to be unsuccessful the movie flunks, both as entertainment and as a dramatization of a historical incident

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 flunking
Verb
George's low moment in Philadelphia was a 25-game suspension last season for flunking a drug test that put a permanent blemish on his career. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 Hannah starts flunking tests, missing class, and becomes totally subsumed in Melanie’s world and her instructor’s investment in her. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 12 June 2026 Lost in the shuffle at times is the 35-year-old George — in large part this season because of a 25-game suspension for flunking a drug test — who has deferred to the other three Sixers when needed yet can still flash that All-Star form. — CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026 Or the employee cafeteria in the chains’ corporate overlord’s headquarters flunking an inspection? — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2026 By the end of the eighth grade, Ben—now out as gay—was flunking every class. — Longreads, 3 Feb. 2026 For its misleading omissions, the Times story deserves a flunking grade. — Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026 Conservatives, with few exceptions, united behind her, arguing the controversy was an example of a left-wing instructor flunking a student over their Christian beliefs. — Jo Yurcaba, NBC news, 14 Dec. 2025 The coursework was intense, and the two struggled, even flunking some classes. — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 28 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flunking
  1. failing
  2. collapsing
  3. flopping
  4. missing
  5. struggling
Adjective
  • The World Bank, International Monetary Fund and International Criminal Court, which all got failing grades in last year's survey, saw the biggest gains.
    — Andrea Shalal, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The state graded the campus an F for three consecutive years, meaning two more failing grades could trigger an intervention.
    — Noah Alcala Bach, San Antonio Express-News, 1 Jan. 2026
Definition of failing
Verb
  • Musk did not understand that in India, as in much of the world, trust in America is collapsing.
    — Fareed Zakaria, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Pushing the ball in transition, George made contact with Detroit guard Duncan Robinson before dramatically collapsing to the floor in an Oscar-worthy attempt to bait a whistle.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of collapsing
Verb
  • Because the flopping infraction carries no suspension, George remains fully cleared to suit up Friday when Boston hosts his former team, the Philadelphia 76ers.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The tall foliage of bearded iris (Iris germanica) begins flopping early in the growing season.
    — Marie Iannotti, The Spruce, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of flopping
Verb
  • What was missing was the physical reorganization of factories.
    — Stephen Messer, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • His raspy voice, his beard, his missing finger and the cadence of his speech have been fixtures of Brazilian public life since Brazil’s first direct presidential election after the dictatorship ended in 1985.
    — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of missing
Verb
  • The school has implemented programs to help struggling students close achievement gaps and introduced the Hadley Literacy Plan to improve writing schoolwide.
    — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Fashion’s nature risks and dependencies are wide-reaching, from cotton harvests ravaged by drought and leather supply chains riddled with deforestation, to manufacturing hubs struggling with water scarcity and retail networks affected by flooding.
    — Bella Webb, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of struggling

Browse Nearby Words

flunkies
flunking
flunks
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Cite this Entry

“Flunking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flunking. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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