as in defeated
to achieve a victory over
at last she's bested her card-playing mother at the game of hearts
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Recent Examples of bested
The Raiders had, in impressive form, bested the Patriots the previous week, but they were still considered to be not very good.
—
Jasper Craven, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
This year, Ryan Coogler's brilliant vampire story Sinners bested that by two, landing 16 nominations.
—Linda Holmes, NPR, 22 Jan. 2026
Purpose was beaten by Adele’s 25, while Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia and Olivia Rodrigo’s debut full-length Sour bested Changes and Justice (Triple Chucks Deluxe), respectively.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
This isn't the first time the Princess of Wales has bested her husband while dressed up.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
Shanahan’s Niners bested Pete Carroll’s Hawks in a 2022 wild-card melee; San Francisco had 505 yards of offense and won 41-23.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2026
Andre Lee bested Gauthier for the puck, gliding forward for a backhand dish that set up Armia’s one-timer from the left circle.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 17 Jan. 2026
Thomas Vallet collected 21 points and three steals, while Brody Billone had 15 points and seven rebounds as Mansfield bested Foxboro, 63-50.
—Tyler McManus, Boston Herald, 17 Jan. 2026
Its stiffest competition, One Battle, competed in the musical-comedy categories—but bested Hamnet for directing and screenwriting honors, both of which went to Paul Thomas Anderson.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Jasper Craven, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
This year, Ryan Coogler's brilliant vampire story Sinners bested that by two, landing 16 nominations.
—Linda Holmes, NPR, 22 Jan. 2026
Purpose was beaten by Adele’s 25, while Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia and Olivia Rodrigo’s debut full-length Sour bested Changes and Justice (Triple Chucks Deluxe), respectively.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
This isn't the first time the Princess of Wales has bested her husband while dressed up.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
Shanahan’s Niners bested Pete Carroll’s Hawks in a 2022 wild-card melee; San Francisco had 505 yards of offense and won 41-23.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2026
Andre Lee bested Gauthier for the puck, gliding forward for a backhand dish that set up Armia’s one-timer from the left circle.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 17 Jan. 2026
Thomas Vallet collected 21 points and three steals, while Brody Billone had 15 points and seven rebounds as Mansfield bested Foxboro, 63-50.
—Tyler McManus, Boston Herald, 17 Jan. 2026
Its stiffest competition, One Battle, competed in the musical-comedy categories—but bested Hamnet for directing and screenwriting honors, both of which went to Paul Thomas Anderson.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bested
Verb
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The Houston Texans defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6 in the final game of the wild card round of the playoffs on Monday in what might be the end of the Aaron Rodgers era in the NFL.—
Kevin Dotson,
CNN Money,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The Panthers were defeated by the Los Angeles Rams, 34-31, on Saturday in the wild-card round of the NFL playoffs.—
Mike Kaye
January 13,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
President Erdoğan mastered this approach—publicly criticizing rate decisions, invoking Islamic prohibitions on interest, signaling displeasure through state media—until governors either complied or departed.—
Güney Yıldız,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
That’s why Warsh is skeptical of the idea that leadership can be mastered from a bookstore shelf.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
One night after the Warriors snapped Minnesota's 103-game streak of scoring at least 100 points — the third-longest in NBA history — the Timberwolves overcame a cold start from the floor and 23 turnovers.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The sonic boom barrier With the new electromagnetic rail system, engineers overcame a persistent barrier to reliable supersonic performance.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Sure, some out there were robbing old people, choking people, robbing them, beating them up, taking their money, but Troy just wasn’t like that.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Jalen Brunson scored 28 points and the New York Knicks dominated the fourth quarter to beat the Sacramento Kings 103-87 on Tuesday night for their third straight victory.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Anne-Sofie Madsen took winter footwear in a distinctly subversive direction, collaborating with Ugg on spiky, clawed variations of its classic boot.—
Amy O’Brien,
Vogue,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Two days after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minnesota reportedly tackled a home caregiver from sub-Saharan Africa to the snowy pavement and took her away in a van, a close friend made the 1,400-mile journey to a controversial Texas detention facility where she’s being held.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The tournament of Ashford takes place in 209 AC (short for After the Conquest, when Aegon Targaryen conquered Westeros), while Ned Stark’s execution happens in 298 AC.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
-
And having already successfully conquered so many cable-style reality formats (docuseries, food shows, dating experiments), the streamer is now aiming its programming artillery — and algorithm — at one of the few remaining formats still dominated by broadcast networks such as ABC and NBC.—
Josef Adalian,
Vulture,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Los Angeles Police Department could not immediately provide details of his arrest, but NBC4 reported that Sutherland allegedly got into an altercation with a ride-hailing driver, and was booked on suspicion of criminal threats.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
14 Jan. 2026
-
The whole experience somehow got even more embarrassing when a group of women at the restaurant approached him afterwards.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Nelson County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were dispatched to the intersection of Thomas Nelson Highway and Oak Ridge Road near the unincorporated community of Arrington after receiving a report of a kangaroo blocking traffic.—
Sophia Compton,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Officers immediately dispatched to the parking lot at 1094 North Colony Road outside a Panera Bread.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bested.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bested. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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