flunk -
To fail to reach the required standard in an examination, test, or course of study
Ron hid his school test from his mother because he didn't want her to know he had flunked it.
verb
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scuttle -
To be forced to cancel one's plans
Because he couldn't give up his smoking habit, Barry had to scuttle his plans to be a great runner.
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.
noun
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liability -
Something that is likely to cause a problem.
Joe was going to choose Fred as his running mate, but then he realized that Fred's drinking problem would just make him a liability, so he chose someone else.
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.
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.
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.
noun
See verb
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stumble -
An act of stumbling
Shane took a stumble when he tripped over a large rock on the sidewalk.
noun
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dud -
A thing that fails to work properly or is otherwise unsatisfactory or worthless
The firework turned out to be a dud when it landed back on the ground.
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.
verb
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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.
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.
