dead duck

ADJECTIVE

desperate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

despondent forlorn futile sad vain

STRONG

downcast goner

WEAK

at end of one's rope back to the wall can't win despairing desponding gone hard up in the soup in the toilet inconsolable irrecoverable irremediable irretrievable no chance no-win running out of time sunk up against it up the creek useless wretched

Antonyms

STRONGEST

cheerful happy hopeful joyful

WEAK

calm confident content contented satisfactory satisfied secure unworried

ADJECTIVE

doomed

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ill-fated wrecked

STRONG

bedeviled bewitched convicted cursed damned destroyed done fated foreordained lost overthrown overwhelmed predestined ruined sentenced sunk suppressed undone unfortunate

WEAK

cut down done for ill-omened in the cards kiss of death luckless menaced que sera sera star-crossed threatened thrown down unredeemed

Antonyms

STRONG

blessed intact nice protected restored saved successful

WEAK

hopeful lucky

NOUN

sitting duck

Synonyms

STRONGEST

pushover

WEAK

babe in the woods dead meat easy pickings easy victim lamb sinecure soft touch toast vulnerable

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Offord described independence as a "dead duck", adding: "It's not going to happen."

From BBC • May 9, 2026

Buffett is correct in acknowledging that the traditional newspaper business model is a dead duck in the long run, as readers transition to digital news websites.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2019

He was a dead duck at the bag.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 28, 2011

Unless you invest, whether it's the better ones from the Championship or guys with experience of the Premier League, then you are on to a dead duck.

From The Guardian • Oct. 22, 2010

I noticed a long time ago when it comes to disappointment, once a growned person feels it for you, you ain’t nothing but a dead duck, ’cause caint nothing be done to change their mind.

From "Elijah of Buxton" by Christopher Paul Curtis

dead duck

Example Sentences

Related Words