1. to cause something to fail or be ruined; to thwart or sabotage
Usage: informal; chiefly British
2. to sink a ship deliberately by making holes in it
Usage: nautical

Examples

• The bad weather scuppered our picnic plans.
• His careless mistake scuppered the entire project.
• The scandal scuppered her chances of winning the election.
• Budget cuts scuppered the new library construction.
• The captain scuppered his own ship to prevent enemy capture.
• Their hopes were scuppered by the sudden policy change.