as in defeat
a falling short of one's goals
more than a few people were glad to see the obnoxiously smug skater come a cropper at the national championships
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Recent Examples of cropper
The family-friend label came a cropper after it was slapped with a multi-million-dollar copyright lawsuit by Disney, Warner Bros. and other major Hollywood studios for making unauthorized cuts – of scenes deemed unsuitable for family viewing by the brothers – to their movies and series.
—
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 3 June 2025
In January, 1813, at York Castle, fourteen croppers stood trial for rioting and machine breaking, which Parliament had deemed a capital offense in the new Frame-Breaking Act.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
Zelensky came a cropper when trying the same thing — but his stock soared back home at a time when Trump seems to be trying to oust him.
—Stephen Collinson, CNN, 15 Mar. 2025
DeSantis' landslide will likely turn out to be the historically most important result from last Tuesday, akin to but with even greater consequences than George W. Bush's victory in Texas in 1998, another midterm year in which the GOP otherwise came a cropper.
—Bradley Gitz, Arkansas Online, 28 Nov. 2022
But on closer inspection, there are differences: This cropper is shirtless, his backside a bit too pert, and the stalks of asparagus growing from the ground are, in fact, penises.
—Max Norman David Chow Victoria Petro-Conroy, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2022
Intent is where the Manhattan District Attorney’s financial case seemed to come a cropper.
—Norman Eisen, CNN, 30 Mar. 2022
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 3 June 2025
In January, 1813, at York Castle, fourteen croppers stood trial for rioting and machine breaking, which Parliament had deemed a capital offense in the new Frame-Breaking Act.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
Zelensky came a cropper when trying the same thing — but his stock soared back home at a time when Trump seems to be trying to oust him.
—Stephen Collinson, CNN, 15 Mar. 2025
DeSantis' landslide will likely turn out to be the historically most important result from last Tuesday, akin to but with even greater consequences than George W. Bush's victory in Texas in 1998, another midterm year in which the GOP otherwise came a cropper.
—Bradley Gitz, Arkansas Online, 28 Nov. 2022
But on closer inspection, there are differences: This cropper is shirtless, his backside a bit too pert, and the stalks of asparagus growing from the ground are, in fact, penises.
—Max Norman David Chow Victoria Petro-Conroy, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2022
Intent is where the Manhattan District Attorney’s financial case seemed to come a cropper.
—Norman Eisen, CNN, 30 Mar. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cropper
Noun
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Perhaps the most revealing setback came in the 3-2 Copa del Rey final defeat by Barca.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
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Another way in which partisanship has brought us to this incipient defeat of the constitutional order is that the Congress has been rendered all but incompetent by faction.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
30 May 2025
Noun
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When the administration announced the proclamation on Wednesday, Trump argued that Harvard’s failure to disclose information on international student misconduct threatened national security.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
6 June 2025
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He was hospitalized for stomach pains, which quickly escalated to the early stages of kidney failure and near congestive heart failure, a result of past alcohol abuse.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
Noun
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Meanwhile, rural hospitals — already on the brink of collapse — will close their doors, leaving entire communities without access to emergency care.—
Brian Castrucci,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
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There were also signs of lung collapse and fluid buildup (edema).—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
28 May 2025
Noun
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Near the start of their senior years in 1951, three of Jennings’ close friends, including two mutual friends of Atkinson, died in a vehicle crash in Santa Barbara.—
Sean Campbell,
Sacbee.com,
1 June 2025
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The United States Air Force performed full military honors Saturday at the funeral of the 18-year-old woman killed in a jet ski hit-and-run crash last weekend at Grapevine Lake.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cropper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cropper. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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