Synonyms of defeats

defeats 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of defeat

as in overcomes

to achieve a victory over

they defeated their archrivals easily and moved into the next round of the play-offs

Synonyms & Similar Words

• overcomes
• masters
• beats
• conquers
• takes
• gets
• dispatches
• subdues
• stops
• surmounts
• succeeds
• upends
• bests
• overmatches
• wins (against)
• triumphs (over)
• overbears
• prevails (over)
• worsts
• gets the better of
• licks
• does down
• gets around
• buries
• trims
• overwhelms
• finishes
• crushes
• slaughters
• sweeps
• surpasses
• upsets
• skunks
• scores
• routs
• knocks for a loop
• annihilates
• drubs
• vanquishes
• exceeds
• excels
• trounces
• flattens
• clobbers
• blows out
• bombs
• thrashes
• edges (out)
• overthrows
• blows away
• overpowers
• subjugates
• whips
• wallops
• noses out
• transcends
• breaks
• flourishes
• caps
• tops
• unseats
• eclipses
• outshines
• outdistances
• knocks over
• smokes
• pips
• outdoes
• skins
• knocks off
• creams
• shellacs
• outstrips
• waxes
• snows under
• overtops
• outfights
• betters
• aces (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• loses (to)
• falls
• goes down
• fails
• collapses
• goes under
• gives up
• folds
• flops
• washes out
• flunks

defeats

2 of 2

noun

plural of defeat

1

as in losses

failure to win a contest

sore losers still griping about their defeat in the basketball game earlier that week

Synonyms & Similar Words

• losses
• setbacks
• beatings
• routs
• overthrows
• drubbings
• failures
• trimmings
• whippings
• lickings
• collapses
• upsets
• shellackings
• plasterings
• shutouts
• flops
• lumps
• fiascoes
• debacles
• fizzles
• washouts
• lurches
• nonsuccesses
• whitewashes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• victories
• wins
• successes
• triumphs
• achievements
• accomplishments
• sweeps
• landslides
• blowouts
• runaways
• romps
• cakewalks
• walkovers
• walkaways

2

as in collapses

a falling short of one's goals

truly disheartened by the defeat of his plans to revitalize downtown

Synonyms & Similar Words

• collapses
• failures
• crashes
• setbacks
• fizzles
• disappointments
• croppers
• futilities
• nonsuccesses
• deficiencies
• nonachievements
• inadequacies
• letdowns
• insufficiencies
• inefficacies
• ineffectualities

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• achievements
• successes
• accomplishments
• victories
• wins

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of defeats

Verb

Years of practice, games, injuries, triumphs and defeats shape prospects for the ultimate goal — to play hockey professionally. — Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026

Which defeats the entire purpose of replay in the first place. — Will Leitch, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

In a second-round match, Sargis Sargsian defeats Nicolas Massu, 6-7 (8), 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4, in five hours and nine minutes. — Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026

However, if Merab Dvalishvili defeats Petr Yan at UFC 333, then Song might have a better case than O'Malley considering Merab has beaten Sean twice. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Wolf rescues Kuro, but as the two make their escape, they are intercepted by Genichiro, who defeats Wolf in combat, cuts off his left arm, and kidnaps Kuro again. — Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026

If the opposition defeats the ballot measure in November, billionaires will avoid that liability. — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2026

Seven Democratic incumbents have lost their primaries so far, already tying with 2012 for the most Democratic House incumbent defeats this century. — Chad De Guzman, Time, 14 Aug. 2026

The player whose monster army defeats the most babies wins the game. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2026

Noun

The Wildcats have had two painfully close defeats, falling 24-23 to Tuskegee before losing 34-33 in overtime to unbeaten Benedict. — Wilton Jackson, AJC.com, 25 Sep. 2026

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz vows to stay the course after historic defeats in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where his CDU was ejected from parliament for the first time. — Geir Moulson, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026

Schumaker’s Cardinals went on to win the World Series by defeating his current employer in one of the most painful defeats conceivable for a franchise, or fans. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Sep. 2026

And across 29 league games since December 1, United have lost only five — defeats to Arsenal and West Ham United were the only ones with a winning margin beyond one goal, and the latter came in a dead rubber for Leeds. — Beren Cross, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

The wars, weddings, births, massacres, famines, our triumphs, our defeats, our past. — Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026

Two of the Pac-12 defeats are by single digits (Boise State at Oregon and Utah State at Washington), but none of the American’s losses are by fewer than 14 points. — Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Sep. 2026

Second-term presidents typically see their power and influence wane during their last two years, particularly if their party suffers big midterm defeats. — ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026