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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.
In a world that makes sense, the loser of the SEC championship would have nothing to worry about. Seth Emerson, New York Times, 7 Dec. 2025 The winner will greatly improve their chances of reaching the postseason, while the losers' chances will plummet. Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025 The loser is expected to still earn a bye. Jordan Mendoza, USA Today, 5 Dec. 2025 There is also a third-place match played between the losers of the Semifinals. Lucia I Suarez Sang, CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025 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 8 Dec. 2025.

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