Synonyms of lose ground

lose ground

phrase

as in withdraw

to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable)

We need a new strategy because we keep losing ground to the other team.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• withdraw
• retreat
• fall back
• drop back
• give ground
• pull out
• retire
• back away
• give way
• recede
• flee
• evacuate
• fly
• shrink
• pull away
• back down
• chicken (out)
• leave
• climb down
• recoil
• flinch
• bow out
• detach
• go
• abandon
• depart
• backtrack
• disengage
• disentangle
• vacate
• quit
• backpedal

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• advance
• face
• breast
• confront
• brave
• dare
• beard
• defy
• outbrave
• brazen

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of lose ground

The gap between imports and exports hit $100 billion in August, a sign that Trump is losing ground on a signature policy. — Joel Mathis, TheWeek, 9 Oct. 2026

Polls show the party losing ground with those voters and facing unexpectedly tight contests across Texas, including in Paxton’s Senate race and several House districts. — Katherine Doyle, Washington Post, 7 Oct. 2026

Starbucks and Nike are losing ground to the likes of Luckin Coffee and Anta Sports. — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026

In Asia, South Korea’s Kospi as well as Japan’s Nikkei 225 lost ground. — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026