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

Immigration lawyers and academics have identified the key winners and losers of the new H-1B reality. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026

That process has become so lucrative for the arbitrators that decide winners and losers that some of them now have profit margins that would make tech giants blush, my colleague Tara Bannow reports in a new story. — Bob Herman, STAT, 19 Oct. 2026

While the loser in this game each of the past two seasons went on to win the Big 12 title, this Sun Devils team is reeling in conference play. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026

Ryan O'Reilly and Steven Stamkos scored, and Juuse Saros made 30 saves for Nashville, losers of three straight. — CBS News, 16 Oct. 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