flunk

The difference between dropping the SAT and dropping the civil service examination is that incompetent students flunk out in a year or so.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

It’s saying, “Oh, yay, I get to flunk another math test this week,” when what you mean is that you are freaked out about your consistently terrible grades in math class.

From Salon ● Nov. 29, 2024

“I would rather flunk a writing test than expose the pathetic secrets of my heart,” Malcolm writes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 6, 2023

This other teacher is going to flunk me.

From Scientific American ● Oct. 13, 2022

He probably thinks he can still get help with his woodblocks so he won’t flunk our last assignment.

From "The House That Lou Built" by Mae Respicio

A driving examiner, she has the nickname “E-Z Pass,” because she never flunks an applicant.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2025

It was a loving and dutiful decision — the kind that flunks the test for American success.

From Washington Post ● Jun. 7, 2022

If he flunks the test, he will not be alone in paying a price.

From The Guardian ● Dec. 10, 2018

As a policy argument, Friedman’s thesis flunks key empirical tests.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2016

“Well,” I said, “that’s only until he flunks out of community college and comes right back!”

From "Where Things Come Back" by John Corey Whaley

Incredibly, as much as people believe football gets players in the best shape of their life, Fine once flunked his conditioning test for lacrosse after playing football.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

Turns out I hadn’t flunked technology after all.

From Salon ● Aug. 24, 2026

Masse’s professors would have flunked him if he used artificial intelligence for designs and images, he said.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 22, 2026

Many readers flunked at least a few questions in the first quiz.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026

I said I'd flunked out of Pencey, though.

From "The Catcher in the Rye" by J. D. Salinger

The freshman and sophomore years were tough, with some core courses flunking or dropping almost half the students.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026

Improved though we are, L.A. keeps flunking federal clean air standards.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 26, 2026

On each corner of 23rd Avenue and Jefferson Street, including by the Ezell’s Famous Chicken, protesters carried signs reading “Shots Fired, We’re Tired,” or “report cards” grading Seattle Public Schools as flunking on safety.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 20, 2024

He also described flunking his first chemistry exam as a first-year undergraduate student.

From Reuters ● Oct. 4, 2023

I’m not in any danger of flunking out!—but he could feel Mom and Katherine both staring at him.

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix