loser

noun

los·​er ˈlü-zər How to pronounce loser (audio)
Synonyms of losernext
1
: a person or thing that loses especially consistently
The team had a reputation for being a loser year after year.
2
: a person who is incompetent or unable to succeed
Don't waste your time on that loser.
also : something doomed to fail or disappoint
… his position is a loser politically … Fred Barnes

Examples of loser in a Sentence

The team had a reputation for being a loser year after year. The loser of the bet has to buy drinks for the winner. Whoever benefits from the new government programs, the real loser will be the American taxpayer. That guy is a born loser.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
After needing five pitchers in a rout over Texas State earlier in the day just to reach the regional final out of the losers’ bracket, USC coach Andy Stankiewicz rode Johnson. Jose De Jesus Ortiz, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026 No one is more audible than the victor in the loser’s building. Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 31 May 2026 Sridhar Ramaswamy sees the major software players beginning to sort the AI winners from the losers. Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 30 May 2026 The role of government is not to pick winners and losers, but to set clear rules and ensure projects are consistent with community needs. Mercury News Editorial Board, Mercury News, 29 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for loser

Word History

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of loser was in 1548

Cite this Entry

“Loser.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loser. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.

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