variants
also kaputt
1
as in doomed
facing certain defeat, disaster, or death
once the Germans were forced to retreat from Stalingrad, the Nazi cause was kaput
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in obsolete
having passed its time of use or usefulness
hard-line Soviet-style Communism became kaput in Russia
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in malfunctioning
not being in working order
the heating system went kaput on the coldest day of the year
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kaput
Kelly Reilly, who plays Beth Dutton, seems adamant that the OG Yellowstone is kaput.
—
Bethy Squires, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2024
Now all three of those competitors are kaput, felled by runs on deposits during the biggest banking crisis in a decade and a half.
—Rob Copeland, New York Times, 14 June 2023
The Stooges are now functionally kaput—of the original lineup, only Pop is left.
—Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2019
At least not on Sunday afternoon, nearly a full two days after the Clippers were supposed to be done, finished, as kaput as the Kings – those in Sacramento and Los Angeles.
—Jeff Miller, Orange County Register, 29 Apr. 2017
The damages for that less-than-brilliant marketing idea could be as much as $120 million, meaning the company as a whole is pretty much financially kaput.
—Susan Arendt, WIRED, 14 Mar. 2007
Bethy Squires, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2024
Now all three of those competitors are kaput, felled by runs on deposits during the biggest banking crisis in a decade and a half.
—Rob Copeland, New York Times, 14 June 2023
The Stooges are now functionally kaput—of the original lineup, only Pop is left.
—Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2019
At least not on Sunday afternoon, nearly a full two days after the Clippers were supposed to be done, finished, as kaput as the Kings – those in Sacramento and Los Angeles.
—Jeff Miller, Orange County Register, 29 Apr. 2017
The damages for that less-than-brilliant marketing idea could be as much as $120 million, meaning the company as a whole is pretty much financially kaput.
—Susan Arendt, WIRED, 14 Mar. 2007
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kaput
Adjective
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Who makes a bad car and has an obsolete social media platform?—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
14 Mar. 2025
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This doesn’t mean traditional banks are obsolete.—
Edin Deljkic,
Forbes,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The chain gang will still be on the field as a backup option, but the archaic measuring system will no longer be the primary way to determine a first down or not on close plays.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2025
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That would have been necessary in the technologically archaic Cohen building — absent the existential question now hovering over the networks.—
David Folkenflik,
NPR,
15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The 2019 second-round pick — Washington’s general manager Adam Peters helped make the selection — is coming off a down season but offers significant yards-after-the-catch potential.—
Ben Standig,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
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During down moments, Ferreira, Einesman, and Lentz would pull an actor aside to review the mechanics of aprocedure to create the right physicality.—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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In Brazil, Cuban doctors in the defunct Mais Medicos program were paid less than a third of what was paid to doctors of other nationalities in the same program, according to documents obtained by the Brazilian press.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
7 Apr. 2025
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Cohen was first elected in 2018, after Crook had ended his relatively brief career as a lobbyist for the Coalition for Connecticut Sportsmen, a defunct organization that had been run by his father, Robert T. Crook.—
Mark Pazniokas,
Hartford Courant,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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At the same time, Israel has acted to render what is left of Assad’s navy inoperative.—
Bassem Eid,
New York Daily News,
2 Jan. 2025
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Although there several election ballot scanners were inoperative at multiple polling locations in Cambria County in Pennsylvania, no widespread voting problems had been reported by the late afternoon.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The sunk cost fallacy, for example, can lead companies to continue investing in maintaining a physical office space, despite the benefits of remote work.—
Dr. Gleb Tsipursky,
Forbes,
6 Feb. 2023
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The sunk cost fallacy is a bias that behavioral economists say can cause a person to stick with a losing investment.—
Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi,
Discover Magazine,
22 Mar. 2022
Adjective
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As many as 85 valves made by the company failed at two south state stations, along with other equipment, leading them to be frequently inoperable, the complaint says .—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacramento Bee,
13 Mar. 2025
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The ransomware attack affected 30 MGM Resort properties causing immediate tremendous disruption that lasted for nine days with guests’ digital key cards inoperable, locking them out of their rooms, as well as affecting slot machines, ATMs and check in systems.—
Steve Weisman,
Forbes,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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In the Delta, pumping operations are expected to slow in April and May to protect endangered fish species.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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Hop on the eco-buggy and explore Longleaf Pine Preserve, home to some of the threatened and endangered species listed in Florida.—
Joe Rassel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kaput.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kaput. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
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