forfeit 1 of 2

noun

ˈfȯr-fət How to pronounce forfeit (audio)
Definition of forfeitnext
as in penalty
a sum of money to be paid as a punishment the forfeit for each baseball player involved in the brawl was $5,000

Synonyms & Similar Words

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forfeit

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to waive

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Dissimilar Words
2
as in to lose

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Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of forfeit
Noun
His reasoning is about what a creator forfeits by taking money early. — Maureen Kerr, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 After narrowly missing out on advancing to the main tournament, Wales was chosen in a draw for a qualifier playoff against Israel, which had faced forfeits from multiple teams, including Turkey, Indonesia, and Egypt, because of geopolitical tensions at the time amid Arab-Israeli conflicts. — Tushaar Kuthiala, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 June 2026
Verb
Victor Valley has decided to forfeit its football game this week for actions in a game last week. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026 Specifically, the Clippers will forfeit their first-round picks in the NBA Draft from 2029 through 2033. — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for forfeit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forfeit
  1. penalty
  2. waive
  3. lose
  4. fine
  5. damages
  6. forfeiture
Noun
  • Trump administration officials in his first term were alleged to have repeatedly violated the Hatch Act with no penalty.
    — Alayna Treene, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Forward Brady Tkachuk, Florida’s major offseason acquisition, had one shot on goal and two penalty minutes in his Panthers debut.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of penalty
Verb
  • The Falcons were waiving Harrison, subjecting the 6-foot-5, 270-pound defensive end to claims from the NFL’s other 31 teams.
    — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 3 Oct. 2026
  • On Friday, the Rams waived punt returner Xavier Smith, who fumbled in last season’s NFC championship game and made several decision-making errors against the Broncos.
    — Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of waive
Verb
  • House Speaker Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, said there could be a homestead exemption or a mechanism that ensures people don’t lose their housing.
    — Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Peggy Tanous isn’t there because she was inexplicably invited to RHUGT instead, and Peggy Sulahian isn’t there because Alex Baskin lost her number the second that season ended.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of lose
Noun
  • Those who fail to cast a ballot without justification face a small fine.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Point and click — the ticket is in the mail, along with a hefty fine and points on the license.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of fine
Noun
  • The City of Boulder and Boulder County, Colorado, in 2018 sued major fossil-fuel producers Exxon Mobil and Suncor Energy, seeking financial damages under state public nuisance law.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The family is seeking an unspecified amount in damages, as well as the parents’ removal from the registry.
    — Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of damages
Noun
  • In April, 2025, he was assigned to asset forfeiture and returned to the District of Colorado office.
    — Eyal Press, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
  • This includes elective deferrals, employer matching and nonelective contributions and allocations of forfeitures.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of forfeiture

Browse Nearby Words

for fair
forfeit
forfeited
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Cite this Entry

“Forfeit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forfeit. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on forfeit

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about forfeit

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