Synonyms of defeat

defeat 1 of 2

verb

di-ˈfēt 

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

• overcome
• master
• beat
• worst
• conquer
• take
• best
• get
• stop
• dispatch
• subdue
• surmount
• succeed
• overmatch
• triumph (over)
• win (against)
• upend
• lick
• prevail (over)
• get the better of
• overbear
• get around
• trim
• skunk
• do down
• overwhelm
• crush
• finish
• slaughter
• sweep
• bury
• knock for a loop
• upset
• surpass
• rout
• annihilate
• vanquish
• score
• blow out
• better
• overthrow
• drub
• trounce
• exceed
• blow away
• snow under
• bomb
• clobber
• flatten
• edge (out)
• subjugate
• whip
• nose out
• flourish
• excel
• thrash
• break
• overpower
• skin
• cap
• unseat
• smoke
• cream
• top
• transcend
• wallop
• pip
• knock over
• outdistance
• outdo
• eclipse
• outfight
• outshine
• shellac
• wax
• outstrip
• ace (out)
• knock off
• overtop

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lose (to)
• fall
• go down
• fail
• give up
• collapse
• go under
• fold
• wash out
• flop
• flunk

defeat

2 of 2

noun

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

• loss
• beating
• setback
• overthrow
• rout
• failure
• whipping
• drubbing
• trimming
• trouncing
• licking
• collapse
• upset
• shellacking
• plastering
• fiasco
• debacle
• flop
• lump
• shutout
• washout
• whitewash
• nonsuccess
• lurch
• fizzle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• victory
• success
• triumph
• win
• achievement
• accomplishment
• sweep
• landslide
• runaway
• blowout
• cakewalk
• romp
• walkover
• walkaway

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

• collapse
• failure
• crash
• setback
• cropper
• fizzle
• disappointment
• nonsuccess
• futility
• nonachievement
• deficiency
• ineffectiveness
• uselessness
• inefficacy
• ineffectuality
• inadequacy
• letdown
• ineffectualness
• insufficiency
• inefficaciousness
• inadequateness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• success
• achievement
• victory
• accomplishment
• win

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb defeat differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of defeat are conquer, overcome, overthrow, reduce, subdue, and vanquish. While all these words mean "to get the better of by force or strategy," defeat does not imply the finality or completeness of vanquish which it otherwise equals.

the Confederates defeated the Union forces at Manassas

When is conquer a more appropriate choice than defeat?

In some situations, the words conquer and defeat are roughly equivalent. However, conquer implies gaining mastery of.

Caesar conquered Gaul

When could overcome be used to replace defeat?

While in some cases nearly identical to defeat, overcome suggests getting the better of with difficulty or after hard struggle.

overcame a host of bureaucratic roadblocks

When might overthrow be a better fit than defeat?

While the synonyms overthrow and defeat are close in meaning, overthrow stresses the bringing down or destruction of existing power.

violently overthrew the old regime

When can reduce be used instead of defeat?

The meanings of reduce and defeat largely overlap; however, reduce implies a forcing to capitulate or surrender.

the city was reduced after a month-long siege

Where would subdue be a reasonable alternative to defeat?

The words subdue and defeat are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, subdue implies a defeating and suppression.

subdued the native tribes after years of fighting

When would vanquish be a good substitute for defeat?

The synonyms vanquish and defeat are sometimes interchangeable, but vanquish implies a complete overpowering.

vanquished the enemy and ended the war

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of defeat

Verb

Almost 90 years ago, the fight against polio inspired schoolchildren to send handfuls of coins to the White House – and the March of Dimes helped defeat polio. —Audrey Boone Tillman, Fortune, 19 June 2026

The proposal has already divided Democrats and major labor unions and triggered an expensive campaign to defeat it. —Sophie Austin, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026

Noun

Humiliation, however, is distinct from defeat. —Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 18 June 2026

The groom-to-be, 30, is fresh off winning the 2026 NBA Finals, with the New York Knicks defeat of the San Antonio Spurs. —Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026