dud

nouns

someone who is unsuccessful

dud, flop, washout

an explosion that fails to occur

dud, misfire

an event that fails badly or is totally ineffectual

"the first experiment was a real turkey"; "the meeting was a dud as far as new business was concerned"

bomb, dud, turkey

failing to detonate; especially not charged with an active explosive

"he stepped on a dud mine"

dud

is similar to

(of weapons) not charged with ammunition

"many people are killed by guns thought to be unloaded"