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• washed-up
  washed-up

  adjective

  done for; having failed completely.
• washed up
  washed up

  adjective

  no longer useful, successful, hopeful, etc

washed-up

American  

[wosht-uhp, wawsht-] / ˈwɒʃtˈʌp, ˈwɔʃt- /

adjective

Informal.

1. done for; having failed completely.

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washed up British  

adjective

1. no longer useful, successful, hopeful, etc

   our hopes for the new deal are all washed up

2. exhausted

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washed up Idioms  

1. see wash up, def. 3.

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Etymology

Origin of washed-up

First recorded in 1920–25

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

washed-up washed up

That moment, a brief section of a borrowed song from a washed-up and dying man, carries more weight than even the most faithful AI recreation or iteration.

From Salon ● Oct. 30, 2026

They will be promoted on social media and television by washed-up athletes and unscrupulous influencers paid well for their perfidy.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 17, 2026

And, most importantly, as a washed-up hipster living in central Brooklyn, I am surrounded by fans of Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur—two teams I also know nothing about—and I simply refuse to conform to that coalition.

From Slate ● Aug. 28, 2026

He never stops looking puffy and ridiculous, like a washed-up rocker spending all his royalties on steroids.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

I count my lucky stars—that is, I’m reminded again that there is some luck to be had, even for a washed-up hustler like me.

From "X: A Novel" by Ilyasah Shabazz

MVP Matt Stafford looks washed up; generational quarterback Herbert looks lost; and coaching geniuses Sean McVay and Jim Harbaugh look bewildered.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2026

A powerful nor'easter storm has washed up what may be a shipwreck from the 19th century in Massachusetts, local media said.

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026

Who among us Dodgers fans cares that he thinks the Dodgers are washed up?

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026

Dog owners have been put on alert after suspected palm oil washed up on a Merseyside beach.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

They washed up, combed their hair, and even brushed their teeth.

From "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" by E.L. Konigsburg

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