: presenting two options both of which put one at a disadvantage
a lose-lose proposition

Examples of lose-lose in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Paint a picture of why fines and fees are a lose-lose so that both government insiders and sympathetic outsiders, like public interest lawyers, community organizers, nonprofit leaders working on immigration or incarceration, etc., understand. Courtney E. Martin, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Feb. 2024 This encroachment is a lose-lose situation: The grazing is not nutritious for livestock, and the delicate Afro-Alpine soil and plants can take decades to regenerate. Kang-Chun Cheng, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Dec. 2023 But its assets in just nine months have soared by 25% to $91 billion, a lose-lose combination that lowered its ROA to a paltry 1.5%. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2023 But as the war unfolds, Israel is hurtling toward a lose-lose outcome. Audrey Kurth Cronin, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2023 Pledging to bring gas prices down by any means necessary is a lose-lose prospect for both the planet and the Biden administration. Kate Aronoff, The New Republic, 19 Sep. 2023 But this conclusion may seem like a lose-lose for those looking to stay active. Alexa Mikhail, Fortune Well, 27 June 2023 But a quarter-century is bound to bring changes—including physical ones, understandably—and Davis admits she’s been fighting a lose-lose battle over her use of facial fillers and other aesthetic treatments. Kayla Blanton, SELF, 12 June 2023 For him, running for president was a lose-lose proposition. James Pindell, BostonGlobe.com, 5 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lose-lose.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lose-lose was in 1965

Dictionary Entries Near lose-lose

Cite this Entry

“Lose-lose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lose-lose. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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