dud

[duhd]

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

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of dud¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of dud¹

C15 (in the sense: an article of clothing, a thing, used disparagingly): of unknown origin

Example Sentences

There were also duds - far too many - but Gerrard was bullet proof.

Read more on BBC

They are intended to explode on impact but a significant proportion are "duds", meaning they do not explode initially.

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Or at least a dud in our own kitchen.

Read more on Salon

The latter part of that post referred to the team’s second set of alternate duds: the Super Chargers uniforms.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

They will not help if the candidate using them is an uncharismatic dud, with unpopular policies.

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Related Words

• debacle 
• flop