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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This rule, Grimsley says, is designed to be adaptable, and be able to shift with the pace of technology—a recognition that when regulation and approvals take too long, the technology at issue risks becoming obsolete by the time it can be implemented.—
Jessica Mathews,
Fortune,
6 Aug. 2025
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Dynamic, Self-Evolving Customer Journeys Static journey maps are quickly becoming obsolete as customer journeys grow more fluid, stretching across devices, time zones and emotional states.—
Asif Hasan,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Fresh meat was far from the only thing on the menu, according to a growing body of research that has revealed our archaic cousins ate a varied diet that included pulses and shellfish.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
25 July 2025
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Despite much innovation, financial services firms actually have some of the most archaic infrastructure and the highest levels of volatility.—
David Parker,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
Adjective
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The Panthers had Graham Gano, one the mightiest kickers in the league but who was recovering from an injury and trying to recoup from a statistical down year.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Aug. 2025
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Read more: Bears, Vikings Linked as Possible Trade Partners in Suggested QB Trade Last season with the Dolphins, Hill had a down year.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Associated Press What To Know The Russian Foreign Ministry accused Washington of escalating tensions by testing, producing and moving systems once banned under the defunct Intermediate‑Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.—
Sonam Sheth
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Aug. 2025
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The owner of a defunct Leominster used car dealership cashed a nearly $1.4 million IRS refund check that wasn’t meant for him, federal prosecutors allege.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
2 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Also inoperative the morning of the crash were the runway alignment indicator lights, which had not worked for more than three years.—
Karen Kucher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 June 2025
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Several election ballot scanners are currently inoperative at multiple polling locations in Cambria County in Pennsylvania.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
5 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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Of the remaining kiosks, 40 were inoperable, and the status of five was unknown.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
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About some of his battle, Linda has said, they were told after surgery in July 2022, that the cancer came back in the same spot, was inoperable and that Ryder had just weeks to live.—
Helen I. Bennett,
Hartford Courant,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Environmental groups presented testimony in court that additional construction of the facility would harm water quality in the Everglades and contribute harm to the endangered Florida panther.—
Greg Allen,
NPR,
7 Aug. 2025
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Even with their efforts, the Mississippi was named the nation's most endangered river of 2025 by the environmental advocacy group American Rivers.—
Madeline Heim,
jsonline.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kaput.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kaput. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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