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
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
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
-
Lean manufacturing principles, continuous improvement, and just-in-time processes from our classic production systems are nowhere near being obsolete.—
Natan Linder,
Forbes,
4 Mar. 2025
-
Within decades, invasive research on lab animals could be obsolete, as new technology allows scientists to test cancer treatments on tissues grown from a patient’s own cells, or create detailed maps of Alzheimer’s disease in human brains.—
Celia Ford,
Vox,
3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Yes, the three-month visa and its archaic application portal deter some travelers, but spending a few months in Hoi An or Hanoi is well worth the hassle.—
Katie Lockhart,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Feb. 2025
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After federal and Senate investigations detailed numerous failures, including an archaic information technology system, the Health Resources and Services Administration announced a modernization initiative in March 2023.—
Annie Waldman,
ProPublica,
22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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There is a lot to prove for Cozens, who many believe still has an upside worth tapping into despite back-to-back down seasons in Buffalo.—
Julian McKenzie,
The Athletic,
9 Mar. 2025
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But now would be the time to test his commitment to Pettersson in what has been a down season for him: 12 goals and 24 assists through 56 games.—
Phil Thompson,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Previously, White Sox games were televised on the now defunct NBC SportsNet Chicago.—
Brad Adgate,
Forbes,
4 Mar. 2025
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In Georgia she got involved with a legendary, now defunct community health food store, Life’s Essentials, and several schools that promoted racial pride, good health, and collaboration.—
Cynthia R. Greenlee,
Bon Appétit,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Perhaps most notably, both sides deploy decoy vehicles—either inoperative derelicts or inflatable fakes—to draw enemy fire away from real vehicles.—
David Axe,
Forbes,
31 Oct. 2024
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In wartime, however, the calculus changes, because most of the costs are inoperative.—
William C. Wohlforth,
Foreign Affairs,
22 June 2021
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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Serving many different customers The advantages of such a platform include superior image quality, less congested orbits, and natural debris removal as inoperable satellites are pulled down into Earth's atmosphere and burnt up.—
Eric Berger,
Ars Technica,
3 Mar. 2025
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Four refrigeration units were inoperable at the time of the inspection.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacramento Bee,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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With consistent and transparent allocation of funds, Florida could expand its wildlife corridors and protect critical habitats for endangered species like the Florida panther and scrub-jay.—
Sarah Gledhill,
Orlando Sentinel,
2 Mar. 2025
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Highlights include exclusive footage of endangered species and unique ecosystems.—
Jamie Lang,
Variety,
27 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to kaput
Cite this Entry
“Kaput.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kaput. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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