1
2
as in to drop
to fail to win, gain, or obtain
if the team loses this game, they're out of the play-offs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to fall
to undergo defeat
she really hates to lose at anything, and inevitably throws tantrums when it happens
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to discard
to get rid of as useless or unwanted
we told the recent grad to lose the flashy shirts and dress conservatively for the job interview
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to spend
to use up carelessly
we lost a good hour while he tried to find his keys
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lose
Willy has been in decline since losing the respect of his eldest son Biff, a once-promising high-school football star who fails his math requirement, loses his football scholarship, and discovers his father having an affair on the road.
—
Soraya Nadia McDonald, Vulture, 24 Feb. 2026
Thompson made some nice plays this year, but lost some national shine by playing on a 5-8 team that went 1-7 in conference.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2026
Former Calumet Township Assessor’s Office Chief of Staff Sondra Ford said she was fired days after losing in a party caucus to Assessor Jackie Collins, according to a new federal lawsuit.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026
Draisaitl’s Edmonton Oilers have lost in the Stanley Cup Final to Tkachuk’s Florida Panthers the last two seasons.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lose
Soraya Nadia McDonald, Vulture, 24 Feb. 2026
Thompson made some nice plays this year, but lost some national shine by playing on a 5-8 team that went 1-7 in conference.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2026
Former Calumet Township Assessor’s Office Chief of Staff Sondra Ford said she was fired days after losing in a party caucus to Assessor Jackie Collins, according to a new federal lawsuit.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026
Draisaitl’s Edmonton Oilers have lost in the Stanley Cup Final to Tkachuk’s Florida Panthers the last two seasons.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lose
Verb
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Set the scene On the pin-drop quiet rue des Beaux-Arts, along a block full of art galleries, L’Hôtel is easy to miss, which is entirely part of its appeal.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Feb. 2026
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Doncic was not having one of his better shooting nights, having missed 16 of his 24 shots, eight of his 10 three-pointers and even five of his nine free throws en route to 22 points.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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For the past several seasons, Probst has hosted a companion podcast, On Fire With Jeff Probst, which ordinarily drops weekly episodes that recap each episode of the CBS reality competition show.—
Staff Author,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Feb. 2026
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Last weekend, Coastal Carolina beat VCU twice while dropping a decision to Illinois.—
David Eckert,
Austin American Statesman,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Unlike Israel, Palestinian cities have no warning sirens or bomb shelters, despite the risk of falling debris or errant missiles.—
CLAUDIA CIOBANU,
Arkansas Online,
1 Mar. 2026
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Even if some kilns had continued producing ceramics, the Yuan Dynasty fell in 1368 and the first Ming emperor banned commercial trade around 1371, so even conservative estimates for dating the shipwreck still fall between the late 1320s and 1371, according to the study.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Gameplay varies but the premise involves discarding and picking up tiles to create matching or sequenced sets.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Mar. 2026
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Restaurants, grocery stores, and homes discard food.—
Israel Melendez Ayala,
Time,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Most of Miami’s regular starters spent the first half on the bench and played in the second half.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
2 Mar. 2026
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Most of it -- more than $67 million -- had been spent by Cornyn's campaign and allied groups, much of it attacking Paxton, but also lately trying to keep Hunt from advancing.—
THOMAS BEAUMONT,
Arkansas Online,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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June 12, 1991, is a day Tammy Tacho will never forget.—
Elise Hammond,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
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Plus, who could forget the Lexus LX, GMC Yukon, Cadillac Escalade and Jeep Wagoneer?—
Marc D. Grasso,
Boston Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The biggest hit will probably come to an area where local governments already falter.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Feb. 2026
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Despite leading most of the game, USC faltered in the final moments and dropped its second game in a row.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Each year, the nation’s streaming services dump literally hundreds of original drama and comedy series into our queues, to say nothing of the cartoons, stand-up specials, and multipart documentaries on offer.—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
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The last notable time when cities and towns dumped snow into the Bay was after the Blizzard of '78.—
Alex Kuffner,
The Providence Journal,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lose. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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