FALL FLAT Synonyms: 56 Similar and Opposite Words

fall flat

phrase

Definition of fall flat

as in collapse

to be unsuccessful Her performance fell flat despite weeks of rehearsing.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in fall short

to go wrong Their game plan fell flat when their star player suffered an injury.

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 fall flat Rebrands fall flat, bets don't land, and initiatives become a dud. — Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026 Even the president’s jokes about his bad jokes fell flat, and he was widely ridiculed for the comedy routine afterward. — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 25 July 2026 But many of the shows, other than The Morning Show, fell flat with audiences. — Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 23 July 2026 Without a well-fitting T-shirt or tank, an ensemble can fall flat or look unfinished. — Better Homes & Gardens, 18 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for fall flat

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fall flat

fall short

Phrase

Still, some civil rights advocates say these measures fall short.

— Soo Youn, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
While research falls short on estimating how many faces a person sees in a day in 2026, researchers estimated a decade ago that 95 million photos and videos were posted to Instagram each day.

— Nicole Karlis, Allure, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of fall short

Browse Nearby Words

fallen (to)

fall flat

fall for

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Fall flat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fall%20flat. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of fall flat

phrase

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

zeugma

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes