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noun

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flop - A failure

When no one bought tickets for the play after opening night, the producer realized that it was going to be a flop.

verb

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backfire - To have the opposite effect of what was intended, usually producing a negative result.

At the company meeting, his attempt to lie backfired, and when the truth came out, he was very embarrassed.

noun

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flaw - A mark, fault, or other imperfection that mars a substance or object

Supermodel Cindy Crawford's mole is viewed as a flaw that makes her even more beautiful.

adjective

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culpable - Deserving to be blamed or considered responsible and guilty for something bad that happened.

The mother felt that her oldest son was more culpable for the messy bedroom than his younger brother, because he should have known better.

noun

See verb

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fumble - An act of using the hands clumsily while doing or handling something

Owen made a major fumble on his date when he knocked over his glass of wine.

verb

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bungle - To carry out a task clumsily or incompetently, leading to failure or an unsatisfactory outcome

The painter bungled his job when he misspelled the word on the road sign.

verb

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fritter - To waste or squander time, money or resources.

My father told me I would prosper if I don't fritter away my time and money because they are equally precious.

noun

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fluke - Unlikely chance occurrence, especially a surprising piece of luck

Since he was the worst player on his baseball team, Taylor knew the home run he had just hit was a fluke.

noun

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repercussions - The effects or results of an action, event, or decision, especially those that are unintended or negative.

His decision to suddently quit the company without notice had serious repercussions, hurting his reputation and making it hard to find another job.

verb

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overreach - To go beyond what is proper, reasonable, or safe—especially in power or ambition; to stretch too far and fail as a result.

The company overreached by expanding too quickly and ended up in debt.

verb

See noun

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fumble - Use the hands clumsily while doing or handling something

The football player fumbled the ball, so the opposing players tried to grab it.

noun

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futility - the quality being ineffective, useless, unsuccessful, and achieving nothing.

Elon Musk confronted the common attitude regarding the futility of going to Mars, and is proving them wrong.