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white elephant



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.

Commercial flights have previously been hampered by wind conditions and the facility was labelled a "white elephant" by the Public Accounts Committee.

From BBC • Feb. 9, 2026

The film was Titanic - a notorious white elephant, dismissed as a vanity project, and predicted to bring about the collapse of film studios Fox and Paramount.

From BBC • Dec. 12, 2025

Aiming to avoid construction costs and potential white elephant venues, the IOC wanted Italy to use an existing track — with two nearby options in St. Moritz, Switzerland and Igls, Austria.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 23, 2024

Morales unveils his white elephant gift during a Nochebuena celebration at he and his husband’s home.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 27, 2023

On the page, red diamond-covered trailers passed by first, and each one advertised its contents: roaring lions and tigers, charging rhinos and furious hippos, and a majestic white elephant at the very end.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton




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