as in defeated
to achieve a victory over
at last she's bested her card-playing mother at the game of hearts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of bested
Griner holds the record for most blocks in a single season (129) set during 2014, though that mark — and her career total — figures to be bested as the WNBA adds more games to its regular-season schedule.
—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
In his most recent outing, Machado Garry bested former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in November.
—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Slippery Rock is a half hour away from the town of Butler, and admirers of the president had started to make pilgrimage to the grounds of the Farm Show, where the Maximum Leader bested the forces of death only two years earlier.
—
Christopher Hooks,
Harpers Magazine,
23 June 2026
This pales in comparison, however, to the 14 million who watched the original starring Jenny Seagrove in 1984, a figure that hasn’t been bested 42 years on.
—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
22 June 2026
Once again, Dallas bested Buffalo.
—
Dan Snierson,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 June 2026
Progressive Los Angeles city council member Nithya Raman bested reality TV star Spencer Pratt on June 8 to advance to the city's general mayoral election against incumbent Democrat Karen Bass.
—
Will Lennon,
ABC News,
16 June 2026
Caglianone bested Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi throughout the game.
—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
10 June 2026
Horror films directed by YouTubers in their 20s have broken records and bested Star Wars at the box office.
—
Ethan Beck,
Washington Post,
1 June 2026
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
In his most recent outing, Machado Garry bested former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in November.
—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Slippery Rock is a half hour away from the town of Butler, and admirers of the president had started to make pilgrimage to the grounds of the Farm Show, where the Maximum Leader bested the forces of death only two years earlier.
—
Christopher Hooks,
Harpers Magazine,
23 June 2026
This pales in comparison, however, to the 14 million who watched the original starring Jenny Seagrove in 1984, a figure that hasn’t been bested 42 years on.
—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
22 June 2026
Once again, Dallas bested Buffalo.
—
Dan Snierson,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 June 2026
Progressive Los Angeles city council member Nithya Raman bested reality TV star Spencer Pratt on June 8 to advance to the city's general mayoral election against incumbent Democrat Karen Bass.
—
Will Lennon,
ABC News,
16 June 2026
Caglianone bested Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi throughout the game.
—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
10 June 2026
Horror films directed by YouTubers in their 20s have broken records and bested Star Wars at the box office.
—
Ethan Beck,
Washington Post,
1 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bested
Verb
-
Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper each homered for the second straight game and the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the New York Mets 6-2 on Sunday night.
-
Atlanta defeated Indiana 108-101 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday, with Reese posting 21 points and 11 rebounds and Clark scoring 26 points in the loss.
Verb
-
The full set was mastered at Abbey Road Studios and comes with a 16-page book of notes from Simon Armitage and photography by Anton Corbijn and Kevin Cummins.
-
When two people try something neither has mastered, both are exposed and that exposure becomes a chance to support each other rather than perform for each other.
Verb
-
In a rematch of the WNBA’s first-ever game from June 21, 1997, the Sparks overcame a 17-point Liberty lead, all while celebrating the inaugural matchup — and iconic alumni — that changed women’s sports forever.
-
Leviatán were arguably considered underdogs in all these matches, but overcame the odds to make the final and set up a rematch against Paper Rex.
Verb
-
Bryson Stott's three-run homer highlighted Philadelphia's eight-run outburst in the ninth inning and the Phillies rallied to beat the Washington Nationals 14-9 on Tuesday night.
-
Rather than be benched, Devers batted cleanup, overcame an 0-for-3 start, and singled up the middle in the seventh to score Bryce Eldridge, who narrowly beat a tag at the plate for a 3-1 lead.
Verb
-
Four minutes later, Brian Brobbey, who scored twice against Sweden, took a ball off the head of captain Virgil van Dijk and slammed it into the back of the net.
-
The goal scorer then took an artful first touch before drilling it home.
Verb
-
Alexander the Great conquered it in 332 BCE after building a causeway to what had been considered an impregnable island fortress.
-
The collection plays into the brand’s Hollywood roots and the film’s plotline, which looks at the Minions conquered Hollywood in the 1920s and became silent film stars.
Verb
-
So who got a some fries with their shake?
-
This is the same team that got all of the hostages out of the tunnels of Gaza that nobody said could be done.
Verb
-
Police officers created a homicide scenario where they were dispatched to the area of 35th Avenue and Jefferson Street for reports of a fight with multiple subjects and shots fired.
-
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Rapid Deployment Force and the Broward Sheriff’s Office Quick Response team are both able to be dispatched if necessary.
Cite this Entry
“Bested.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bested. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
