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

Example Sentences

Sakunja Salazar is a washed-up influencer who made too much money too fast as a kid.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Duvall won his Academy Award in 1983 for playing a washed-up country singer in "Tender Mercies."

From Barron's • Feb. 16, 2026

The promise of seeing the washed-up Kid Rock in an intimate setting appears to thrill no one.

From Salon • Feb. 9, 2026

Editor: Stephen Mirrione Scene: The montage in which Brad Pitt’s washed-up racer Sonny Hayes begins his winning streak through a momentum-building Grand Prix swing.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 9, 2026

Obadiah down on his knees in the mud, bent over the washed-up statue.

From "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd