come a cropper

phrase

Definition of come a croppernext
1
as in collapse
to be unsuccessful To her disappointment, her plan came a cropper.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fall short
to go wrong He tried to scale the fence but came a cropper.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for come a cropper
  1. fall short
  2. fall flat
  3. lay an egg
Phrase
  • OpenAI's latest annual revenue estimate, confirmed by CNBC, has spooked investors by falling short of previous statements, and the market has taken it out on technology stocks.
    — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The government has increasingly relied on rationing as electricity supply falls short of demand.
    — Catherine Ellis, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of fall short
Phrase
  • Get it now for $179, which is 33% off its actual price, and never let your playlist fall flat.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The deal is Novo’s second since its investor day last week, when its pledges to boost growth with new drugs fell flat.
    — Ed Silverman, STAT, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of fall flat
Phrase
  • Same with the Jets, who simply could not go down to Nashville and lay an egg the size of a bowling ball against their former coach, Robert Saleh.
    — Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of lay an egg
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.

Browse Nearby Words

come about
come a cropper
come across
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Cite this Entry

“Come a cropper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/come%20a%20cropper. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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