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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defeats
Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026
Brown family Joni says the policy change defeats the purpose of getting the pass.
—Olivia Young, CBS News, 28 May 2026
Both fixtures against Newcastle United, defeats to Bournemouth and Fulham, and the home draw against Manchester City demonstrated how Tottenham lacked a discernible game plan and seemed at the mercy of game-state momentum under Frank.
—Elias Burke, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Meanwhile, Din defeats Moff Gideon in single combat, earning possession of the Darksaber.
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 21 May 2026
Levin said the new policy effectively defeats the purpose of unannounced oversight visits.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
This time, though, he's already somewhat sidelined by the introduction of Johnny Cage (Karl Urban), and then he's stunningly killed during a fight with Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford), who defeats him and crushes his head.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 9 May 2026
Over-spraying leads to streaks, which defeats the entire purpose.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
Al Gore defeats George W Bush to become the 42nd President of the United States.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 17 Apr. 2026
Paul Wiseman, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
James Morrison and Kenny Miller scoring terrific individual goals in defeats to the English at Wembley.
—Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 3 June 2026
The left tries to expand its map Progressive groups, still rebuilding from 2024 defeats, are hoping to get their candidates in Montana, New Jersey, and California through their primaries.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 2 June 2026
Call it a one-man eight-run swing and yet both games ended in defeats for the Angels.
—Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 2 June 2026
In a season of difficult defeats, the Royals’ 10-9 loss to Detroit in April really stung.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 1 June 2026
The Stars have lost four of their last five matches, getting outscored 11-0 in the four defeats.
—Fernando Ramirez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026
In both defeats, the Valkyries shot sub-40% from the field and below 35% from the 3-point line.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 26 May 2026
Carter’s twin defeats in 1977 and in 1980 did not create the politics of gas tax holidays.
—Joseph Thorndike, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Verb
But when a brutish — and handsome — newcomer named Sir Tristam defeats Sir Palomides in a tournament, Princess Isode finds her plans thwarted.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026
Brown family Joni says the policy change defeats the purpose of getting the pass.
—Olivia Young, CBS News, 28 May 2026
Both fixtures against Newcastle United, defeats to Bournemouth and Fulham, and the home draw against Manchester City demonstrated how Tottenham lacked a discernible game plan and seemed at the mercy of game-state momentum under Frank.
—Elias Burke, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Meanwhile, Din defeats Moff Gideon in single combat, earning possession of the Darksaber.
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 21 May 2026
Levin said the new policy effectively defeats the purpose of unannounced oversight visits.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
This time, though, he's already somewhat sidelined by the introduction of Johnny Cage (Karl Urban), and then he's stunningly killed during a fight with Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford), who defeats him and crushes his head.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 9 May 2026
Over-spraying leads to streaks, which defeats the entire purpose.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
Al Gore defeats George W Bush to become the 42nd President of the United States.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
But tariff collections have begun to fall since the legal defeats.
—Paul Wiseman, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
James Morrison and Kenny Miller scoring terrific individual goals in defeats to the English at Wembley.
—Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 3 June 2026
The left tries to expand its map Progressive groups, still rebuilding from 2024 defeats, are hoping to get their candidates in Montana, New Jersey, and California through their primaries.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 2 June 2026
Call it a one-man eight-run swing and yet both games ended in defeats for the Angels.
—Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 2 June 2026
In a season of difficult defeats, the Royals’ 10-9 loss to Detroit in April really stung.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 1 June 2026
The Stars have lost four of their last five matches, getting outscored 11-0 in the four defeats.
—Fernando Ramirez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026
In both defeats, the Valkyries shot sub-40% from the field and below 35% from the 3-point line.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 26 May 2026
Carter’s twin defeats in 1977 and in 1980 did not create the politics of gas tax holidays.
—Joseph Thorndike, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defeats
Verb
-
As the realization that nothing—or no one—will be enough overcomes the final bridge, a flurry of drums gallop in and the track explodes into fireworks as Rodrigo screams her guts out.—
Quinn Moreland,
Pitchfork,
22 May 2026
-
The system also overcomes the volatile risks of gas storage entirely by chemically locking hydrogen into a solid metal hydride during both charging and discharging.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
One person alone isn’t indicative of UCLA’s wins or losses, Inouye-Perez says.—
Liana Handler,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
-
All are useful, all are partial, and none reverse the country’s losses.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
The results mark one of the sharpest polling collapses of any modern president.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
-
The robot stops, availability collapses and trust erodes.—
John Wall,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Finally, Kim masters the steps and takes to the stage with confidence, as her family cheers her on!—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 May 2026
-
Levy masters one hilarious perplexed comedic reaction after another as Nicky, a closeted pastor with a zany, highly dysfunctional family.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
After years of delays and testing setbacks, Dark Eagle has recently gained momentum through successful flight tests and production contracts.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
31 May 2026
-
The recent history of such fiery setbacks is not a positive one for Blue Origin.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
Canepa has accused Irizarry of running a toxic workplace and argued that a recent $20 million property tax refund settlement with Genentech highlights the department’s failures.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
-
Investigators examined whether the accident was caused by anchoring failures or equipment malfunction.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
For Mills, nothing beats the unfettered connection caving has to nature.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
-
Getting Around Transit most definitely beats driving here.—
David Hochman,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2026
Noun
-
Watching Nate slowly meet consequences in beatings from mobsters, while Cassie could barely muster concern, was Levinson succeeding at gallows humor.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
2 June 2026
-
Police stopped the violence there that night, but more racist beatings and looting erupted downtown.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defeats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defeats. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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