as in to overcome
to achieve a victory over
they defeated their archrivals easily and moved into the next round of the play-offs
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in loss
failure to win a contest
sore losers still griping about their defeat in the basketball game earlier that week
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in collapse
a falling short of one's goals
truly disheartened by the defeat of his plans to revitalize downtown
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defeat
Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2025
The pic rounds out the plot set up in the previous film, with Hunt now in possession of the key necessary to defeat the Entity.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 8 Apr. 2025
Ted Johnson, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2025
After Saturday’s defeat, the Heat (35-43) remained in 10th place in the Eastern Conference but fell one-half game behind the ninth-place Chicago Bulls (35-42), 1.5 games behind the eighth-place Atlanta Hawks (36-41) and three games behind the seventh-place Orlando Magic (38-40).
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defeat
Verb
The Florida Gators have been crowned champions of the 2025 men’s basketball NCAA Tournament after defeating the Houston Cougars, 65-63, in thrilling fashion on Monday night.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2025
The pic rounds out the plot set up in the previous film, with Hunt now in possession of the key necessary to defeat the Entity.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
Smith’s name has come up in the aftermath of the Democrats‘ defeat.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2025
After Saturday’s defeat, the Heat (35-43) remained in 10th place in the Eastern Conference but fell one-half game behind the ninth-place Chicago Bulls (35-42), 1.5 games behind the eighth-place Atlanta Hawks (36-41) and three games behind the seventh-place Orlando Magic (38-40).
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defeat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defeat
Verb
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Republicans will need Democratic support to overcome a 60-vote threshold to be able to pass the bill in the Senate.—
John Parkinson,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2025
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Prior court decisions and guidance from the Department of Justice have set up hurdles to overcome before the court is forced to overpass a reporter’s privilege to protect sources.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The fresh loss of the trees would make that more difficult.—
Tribune News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2025
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For some, their losses hurt deeply, especially so soon after disaster.—
Tribune News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Dominican officials have not commented on potential causes of the collapse, which also injured more than 255 survivors.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
9 Apr. 2025
-
The Dominican Republic National Police confirmed 79 people were killed as a result of the roof collapse as of Tuesday night.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Now, a new study adds basic geometry to the list of subjects these brainy birds seem to be able to master.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
14 Apr. 2025
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Any club would naturally be eager to sign a player who has mastered the most fundamental skill required to excel as a striker.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Correa is accused of participating in beatings, electrocutions and other forms of abuses while allegedly acting as part of a death squad operating under former Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh.—
Gordon G. Chang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Apr. 2025
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Stocks have taken a severe beating, with many investors selling positions after President Donald Trump unveiled his latest tariff policies late Wednesday.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Saturday's talks in Rome between the Trump administration and the Islamic Republic of Iran over the rogue regime’s failure to dismantle its illicit nuclear weapons program have raised pressing questions about whether Tehran will adhere to a new deal.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
19 Apr. 2025
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These setbacks highlight the inherent risks of space operations, where even minor failures can cost hundreds of millions and set timelines back by months or years.—
Jackie Snow,
Quartz,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Her decision to turn down the Apple beat at the Journal in 2007, the year the iPhone was released, in order to pursue an M.F.A. in fiction propels an exploration of how much human creativity depends on the ideas and labor of others.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2025
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Her defense has raised the possibility that someone else beat him to death and left him in the cold.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The announcement adds to a string of setbacks in the company’s bid to win a slice of the booming market for GLP-1s, which mimic certain gut hormones to tamp down appetite and regulate blood sugar.—
Annika Kim Constantino,
CNBC,
14 Apr. 2025
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Despite the legislative setback, WeCount! is continuing its advocacy work and its ¡Que Calor! campaign.—
Mimi Whitefield,
Miami Herald,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defeat. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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