no-win

adjective

ˈnō-ˈwin How to pronounce no-win (audio)
-ˌwin
: not likely to give victory, success, or satisfaction : that cannot be won
a no-win situation
a no-win war

Examples of no-win in a Sentence

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.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei finds himself in a no-win scenario. Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 18 June 2025 However, Goldschmidt beat the throw and left Erceg in a no-win situation. Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2025 Read More: The Best and Worst Way to Remove a Tick This may seem like a no-win situation: dampness leads to mold and dustmites, and dryness leads to cold-like symptoms and disease. Matt Fuchs, Time, 12 June 2025 The fallout at Willkie, which counted Mr. Trump among its clients decades ago, illustrates the no-win predicament facing law firms caught in Mr. Trump’s cross hairs. Ben Protess, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for no-win

Word History

First Known Use

1961, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of no-win was in 1961

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“No-win.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/no-win. Accessed 26 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on no-win

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!