variants
also kaputt
1
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
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 kaput
Her campaign was supposedly kaput.
—
Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Gunn tells Deadline, that The Authority is not kaput.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 27 Sep. 2025
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
Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Gunn tells Deadline, that The Authority is not kaput.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 27 Sep. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kaput
Adjective
-
If a data center is shut down and the building is set to become something else, the data center’s owner will be required to remove all obsolete equipment like chillers and generators from the site.—
R. Christian Smith,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Learn about Outside Online's affiliate link policy Is exercise obsolete in the age of Ozempic?—
Alex Hutchinson,
Outside,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Often, the easiest solution to fix a malfunctioning attack is to change the striker.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
3 Mar. 2026
-
There's also the scenario where the user experience just isn't great, whether that's subpar customer service or a malfunctioning app.—
Andreina Rodriguez,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
None of this, of course, is to excuse what Kyle said to Amanda, but an attempt to explain his psychology and illustrate how relationships on these shows are more doomed than Katy Perry’s pop career.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
25 Mar. 2026
-
As the members of the 1986 Rogers Commission interrogate the complex inner workings of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to find what, or who, was responsible for the Challenger’s doomed fate, the show explores Commission member Sally Ride’s (Stewart) personal journey.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Trump’s 60-day suspension gives Congress the cover to repeal the archaic shipping law.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
18 Mar. 2026
-
With news breaking that Meghan was pregnant with their son Archie, she and Harry were widely viewed as the fresh new faces of an archaic institution.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Borrowers pay interest on both the primary mortgage and the down-payment loan rather than making a cash down payment.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The Bulldogs had a down year in 2024 with a 2-12 district record but got back to their winning ways this season with a 9-3 district performance.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
His choices allow the viewer to drink in the intimate details of the ruined world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Its walls of red brick had grown thicker after years of gunked ink, the slats of its wooden floors were wildly uneven beneath the buckling weight of antiquated iron machines.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Idaho is taking steps to bolster its antiquated coroner system following stories by ProPublica that documented how lawmakers have repeatedly failed to fix problems that harm grieving families.—
Audrey Dutton,
ProPublica,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Homecoming for Pope Jordan Pope scored 12 points in 33 minutes for Texas playing in his native Bay Area, coming back after suffering a broken foot late in a second-round win over Gonzaga.—
Janie McCauley,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Gertie’s broken tail was a desperate and heartbreaking sign of her relief and gratitude, the news release stated.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kaput.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kaput. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
