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
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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
-
That browsing model is now obsolete.—
Vin Sonpal,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
The movie depicts how a now-obsolete method of weather forecasting that was popular in the United States leading up to World War II was replaced by more modern methods that were taking root in Europe at the time.—
Rebecca Hersher,
NPR,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has opened an investigation into the owner of a malfunctioning chemical storage tank in Garden Grove that has forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents as fire crews race to avoid an explosion.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
24 May 2026
-
Despite the accomplishments, Artemis II astronauts had to contend with a more mundane problem -- a malfunctioning space toilet.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
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,
2 June 2026
-
Xavier Becerra has emerged as a front-runner in the governor’s race just two months after his campaign seemed doomed.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
The very details that make the genre come alive—the archaic syntax, the outfits, the feelings—are the ones that haven’t survived into the present day or that the writer made up.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
This rule has evolved, though it’s not considered completely archaic.—
Wendy Rose Gould,
Martha Stewart,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
Roy said the biggest challenge may be convincing Angelenos to cast a vote at all in what has historically been a low-turnout, down-ballot contest.—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
23 May 2026
-
After seven months of down time, SpaceX returned its Starship vehicle to the launch pad.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
22 May 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
-
The technology was largely depicted as a portal to the future, a tonic for the ailing Los Angeles production sector, and a way to finally wriggle free from the bonds of antiquated studio protocols.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
31 May 2026
-
When leaders continue applying old frameworks to environments that no longer behave predictably, the result can show up as misaligned outcomes, antiquated processes, and teams that stop telling the truth.—
Mary Hemphill,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
Lemieux left Draper with a fractured jaw, broken cheekbone and a broken nose.—
Dan Robson,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
-
The formula has almond, macadamia, and olive oils to moisturize, plus hydrolyzed keratin to support broken strands.—
Ariel Wodarcyk,
Glamour,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kaput.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kaput. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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