go up in smoke

VERB

fail

Synonyms

STRONGEST

break down decline fall

STRONG

abort backslide blunder deteriorate fizzle flop flounder fold founder miscarry miss slip

WEAK

back wrong horse be defeated be demoted be found lacking be in vain be ruined come to naught come to nothing fall flat fall short fall through go astray go down go down swinging go downhill go wrong hit bottom hit the skids lose control lose out lose status meet with disaster miss the boat play into run aground turn out badly

Antonyms

STRONGEST

ascend go up rise

STRONG

accomplish achieve build correct develop do well succeed

WEAK

capture complete deliver earn finish gain merit obtain procure prosper reach win

VERB

miscarry

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abort fall through

STRONG

backslide blunder decline deteriorate fall fizzle flop flounder fold founder misfire miss

WEAK

back wrong horse be defeated be demoted be found lacking be in vain be ruined break down come to naught come to nothing fall flat fall short go astray go down go down swinging go downhill go wrong hit bottom hit the skids lose control lose out lose status meet with disaster miss fire miss the boat miss the mark play into run aground turn out badly

Antonyms

STRONG

accomplish achieve ascend build correct develop do well go up improve rise succeed

VERB

misfire

Synonyms

STRONGEST

backfire fall flat fizzle flop

STRONG

abort blunder explode flounder miscarry miss slip

WEAK

break down come to nothing fall short fizz out fizzle out go wrong peter out poop out

Antonyms

STRONG

correct do well succeed

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.

According to Rubner, contracts tied to $5 trillion in underlying value will go up in smoke that day, although that figure could fluctuate between now and then.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 4, 2026

As a consequence, under real-world conditions, current safety measures can go up in smoke.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 4, 2026

And the most likely funders - Saudi Arabia and the UAE - will need reassurances that their colossal investments are not simply going to go up in smoke in some future Gaza war.

From BBC • Nov. 7, 2025

Watching it this year for the first time, the truth is that throughout the series, whole plotlines just go up in smoke.

From Slate • Dec. 28, 2024

The only fireworks on people’s minds were possible sparks from an outdoor fire that might make the whole dry town go up in smoke.

From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool

go up in smoke

Example Sentences

Related Words