loser

noun

los·​er ˈlü-zər 

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

Synonyms of loser

• disaster
• failure
• catastrophe
• disappointment

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

In the present geopolitical environment, some companies are winners while others are losers, Fitzgerald said. — Cathy Bussewitz, Fortune, 31 July 2026

But after a disappointing 2025 season in which the Tigers went from top-five preseason Playoff darlings to Pinstripe Bowl losers, is the clock ticking for the winningest coach in ACC football history? — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2026

No longer football’s famous losers, Newcastle’s identity was now blurred. — George Caulkin, New York Times, 30 July 2026

Winners and losers in the shifting tax landscape Critics say the trend toward lower income taxes favors wealthy individuals and corporations and imperils public investments in infrastructure, housing, education and childcare. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 30 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing loser

• bad/poor loser
• good loser
• sore loser

Rhymes for loser

• boozer
• bruiser
• chooser
• cruiser
• user
• abuser
• accuser
• diffuser
• multiuser