dud

American  

[duhd] / dʌd /

noun

1. Informal. a device, person, or enterprise that proves to be a failure.

   Synonyms:

   flop, bomb, fizzle, debacle, fiasco

2. a shell or missile that fails to explode after being fired.

---

dud British  

/ dʌd /

noun

1. a person or thing that proves ineffectual or a failure

2. a shell, etc, that fails to explode

3. old-fashioned (plural) clothes or other personal belongings

---

adjective

1. failing in its purpose or function

   a dud cheque

Etymology

Origin of dud

1815–25; special use of dud, singular of duds

Example Sentences

If last year was full of fireworks that ultimately resulted in another big gain for the stock market, 2026 appears set to be a dud.

From Barron's

The band’s first three studio albums, starting in 1970, were commercial duds.

From The Wall Street Journal

I get that John tapping out was his way of saying “I’m done” but man, he went out on such a dud.

From Salon

The Brisbane Courier Mail claimed England are "not even trying anymore", the Advertiser from Adelaide labelled the tourists "rub a dub duds" and Sydney's Daily Telegraph carried the headline "Surfed and Turfed".

From BBC

This latest creation is a dud, a banal sitcom figure surrounded by wacky characters who can’t wring any laughs out of Mr. Brooks’s musty script.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• debacle
• flop