1
2
as in to drop
to fail to win, gain, or obtain
if the team loses this game, they're out of the play-offs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to fall
to undergo defeat
she really hates to lose at anything, and inevitably throws tantrums when it happens
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to discard
to get rid of as useless or unwanted
we told the recent grad to lose the flashy shirts and dress conservatively for the job interview
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to spend
to use up carelessly
we lost a good hour while he tried to find his keys
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lose
The slightly stretchy denim contains one percent elastane—just the right amount of give for comfortable sitting and standing, but not so much stretch that your pants will lose their shape as the hours pass.
—
Emma Greene, InStyle, 21 Jan. 2026
The Sharks have now lost three straight games in the second half of back-to-backs and are 3-6-1 in such situations on the year.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2026
Add all these pieces together and diabetes alone accounts for more than $300 billion in direct medical costs each year, plus another $100 billion in indirect costs from disability and lost productivity.
—Robert Pearl, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
After 18 years, Tejaban had to slash hours after losing staff.
—Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lose
Emma Greene, InStyle, 21 Jan. 2026
The Sharks have now lost three straight games in the second half of back-to-backs and are 3-6-1 in such situations on the year.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2026
Add all these pieces together and diabetes alone accounts for more than $300 billion in direct medical costs each year, plus another $100 billion in indirect costs from disability and lost productivity.
—Robert Pearl, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
After 18 years, Tejaban had to slash hours after losing staff.
—Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lose
Verb
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McDaniel, 42, was highly regarded while directing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to wild-card appearances in 2022 and ’23, after Miami had missed the playoffs for five consecutive seasons.—
Elliott Teaford,
Oc Register,
21 Jan. 2026
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Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Los Angeles Lakers have dropped six of their past 10 games and criticism of the team ramped up Thursday after the Los Angeles Clippers knocked off their crosstown rival.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
24 Jan. 2026
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Coal will drop from 17% to 15%.—
Erik Sherman,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The 1971 Vikings were the other team, and Minnesota wound up falling at home to Dallas in its initial playoff contest.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
13 Jan. 2026
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In witness footage shared by the police, the paraglider is seen falling from the sky with a faulty parachute and spiraling quickly towards the waters below, before smashing into the ocean in front of horrified beachgoers.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The fawner depends on others to prop up her self-image; the unfawner knows when to discard them entirely.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
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Certain dents and signs are clear red flags, signaling you should immediately discard the can to avoid the risk of foodborne illness.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Joabe Barbosa, Matthew Plese and Omar Yousaf spent the day riding the entire MARTA rail system in an attempt to complete the full route in roughly three hours.—
Kaley Fedko,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
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Visitors can spend their entire trip switching off between the two, but be sure to take some time to explore the rocky cove beaches called calas that have made Costa Blanca famous.—
Liz Provencher,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Galaxy also want to forget about 2025 when the club finished near the bottom of the Western Conference.—
Damian Calhoun,
Daily News,
22 Jan. 2026
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield clearly hasn’t forgotten how his time in Cleveland ended after taking a shot at new Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski Tuesday night.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries that falter under heat, thermal batteries use molten salts as electrolytes, which become ionically conductive only when heated.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Jan. 2026
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Pass protection faltered, the run game stalled and Love couldn’t find a rhythm through the air as Green Bay welcomed Chicago back into the game and the Bears once again took advantage to end their archrival’s season in stunning fashion.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Pittsburgh is preparing for a significant winter storm that's expected to dump inches of snow across the area this weekend.—
Madeline Bartos,
CBS News,
23 Jan. 2026
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Primaloft Black Eco insulation kept me toasty on 15-degree lift rides at Bolton Valley Ski Resort, while extra-long flank zips are great for dumping heat on the way down.—
Benjamin Tepler,
Outside,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lose. Accessed 24 Jan. 2026.
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