BESTED Synonyms: 91 Similar and Opposite Words

bested

verb

past tense of best

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

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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 Though the Hoosiers bested the Buckeyes in last year’s Big Ten Championship and won the title, Ohio State remains the Big Ten standard. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026 Now it’s bested itself, unveiling a sub-1 nm chip that roughly doubles that density using NanoStack technology, which stacks transistors vertically, building up rather than out. — Micheline Maynard, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 The Milwaukee Brewers have bested all three in the National League Championship Series, reaching Snell for the only three home runs he’s given up this season in a 6-2 win in Game 3 on Wednesday. — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026 Inter Miami bested New York City FC 2-0 on Wednesday evening for their first back-to-back wins since July. — Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026 Cuellar, meanwhile, bested his opponent by more than 5 percentage points. — Justin Papp, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026 Mansfield Summit beat Cedar Hill 41-19, while Burleson Centennial bested Mansfield Legacy 35-7. — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Oct. 2026 Grichuk bested his former team with a three-run homer to effectively put the game away. — Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2026 Democratic Primary Stefany Shaheen bested Maura Sullivan in the crowded Democratic primary, despite trailing Sullivan significantly in fundraising. — Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bested

Verb

In 2026, Keiko Fujimori narrowly defeated a left-wing candidate to win the Peruvian presidency, while most recently, in Colombia, conservative attorney Abelardo de la Espriella bested left-wing Senator Ivan Cepeda.

— David Unsworth, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Since Baker Mayfield signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023, the Panthers have defeated their division rivals just once in the past seven meetings, including Carolina’s 43-13 blowout loss at home Sunday.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of defeated

Verb

Miller—who is no stranger to extramarital tabloid scandals herself—has also mastered her getting-cheated-on performances.

— Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 24 Oct. 2026
Bloomberg Philanthropies says the West Coast city has mastered the art of faster building applications.

— Isabel Rivera, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of mastered

Verb

Kaprizov and Hartman scored in the third period as Minnesota overcame a 3-1 deficit to force overtime.

— CBS News, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Craig overcame being sacked four times and the run game producing just 33 yards to lead TCU to the massive victory, as the Horned Frogs scored multiple touchdowns against a Power Four conference opponent for the first time this season.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of overcame

Verb

Drew Doughty had a goal and two assists, and Artemi Panarin added a power-play goal and an assist as the Kings beat the New York Rangers 6-3 on Monday night.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
In a shocking upset, a student movement resoundingly beat longtime Serbian leader President Aleksandar Vucic, ending his time in power after 14 years.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of beat

Verb

From Ricky Martin’s Grammy breakthrough to the rise of música mexicana, Tommy Mottola and Alex Gallardo offered a candid look at how Latin music conquered the mainstream — and why its next evolution will depend on artists willing to break the mold.

— Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 19 Oct. 2026
The announcement comes after a summer in which AI models have repeatedly conquered many of math’s longstanding open challenges, including one of the seven Millennium Prize Problems.

— Rachel Crowell, Scientific American, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of conquered

Verb

To add to it, backup running back Tyler Goodson got his most burn as a Cowboy, rushing for 38 yards on 10 carries.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026
It's got a set of pedals, as well as a twist-throttle on the right bar, controlling a 750-W nominal, 1,310-W peak, 85-Nm (63-lb-ft) electric motor between the rear wheels.

— Loz Blain October 26, New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of got

Verb

The Hawks dispatched those goons from Orlando to start the season and have one more road game tonight in Charlotte before Saturday’s home opener.

— Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 23 Oct. 2026
For Daughtry, who was dispatched to work the crash by his editor that day, the assignment was one of the most disturbing of his career.

— Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026