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
-
This means old proxies for productivity, such as time at the desk or visible busyness, are quickly becoming obsolete.—
Julian Hayes II,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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Adaptive reuse involves converting obsolete office buildings into alternative uses such as residential, mixed-use, hotels, or innovation hubs.—
Ali Hoss,
Forbes,
25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The use of this archaic law to once again try to justify mass detentions, xenophobia, and human rights abuses is deplorable and shocking.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
17 Mar. 2025
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And email remains — unfortunately — at the center of this archaic web.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes,
16 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The former actor played Dungeons and Dragons in his down time.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
People.com,
21 Mar. 2025
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Despite having a down year last season, signing for less than $2 million feels like a steal for the Braves.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The same thing happened the last time the Russians attacked under a giant flag—in that case, the blood-red flag of the defunct Soviet Union.—
David Axe,
Forbes.com,
30 Mar. 2025
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Her firm is now defunct, and some of those artworks have begun heading to sale in auctions run by courts and Phillips.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
19 Mar. 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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When the homeowner attempted to use a portable fire extinguisher, it was found to be inoperable, officials said.—
Cale Ahearn,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Mar. 2025
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There are holes in the wooden entrance ramp, and the mill’s drive shaft, which powered the structure, has been inoperable since a 2016 flood.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
22 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 5 Apr. 2025.
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