Synonyms of loses

loses

verb

present tense third-person singular of lose

1

as in misses

to be unable to find or have at hand

I always lose my keys

Synonyms & Similar Words

• misses
• forgets
• misplaces
• mislays
• passes over
• overlooks

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• has
• retains
• possesses
• owns
• occupies
• enjoys
• holds
• keeps
• finds
• locates
• detects
• tracks (down)
• runs down
• scares up
• descries
• scouts (up)

2

as in drops

to fail to win, gain, or obtain

if the team loses this game, they're out of the play-offs

Synonyms & Similar Words

• drops
• forfeits

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• wins
• nails (down)
• prevails (over)
• conquers
• triumphs (over)

3

as in falls

to undergo defeat

she really hates to lose at anything, and inevitably throws tantrums when it happens

Synonyms & Similar Words

• falls
• falters
• throws
• fails
• misses
• bows out
• takes the count
• collapses
• forfeits
• tanks
• flops
• folds
• strikes out
• flunks
• cracks (up)
• founders
• bombs
• washes out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• wins
• prevails
• succeeds
• triumphs
• conquers
• thrives
• flourishes
• prospers

4

as in discards

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

• discards
• unloads
• dumps
• ditches
• abandons
• rejects
• jettisons
• sheds
• tosses
• removes
• eliminates
• exorcises
• scraps
• sloughs (off)
• casts (off)
• chucks
• throws away
• shucks (off)
• dismisses
• sluffs (off)
• junks
• forsakes
• flings (off or away)
• disposes of
• sets aside
• lays by
• abdicates
• throws out
• deep-sixes
• eighty-sixes
• abolishes
• eradicates
• cashiers
• pitches
• deserts
• extinguishes
• kicks out
• annihilates
• exterminates
• expunges
• liquidates
• wipes out
• extirpates
• stamps (out)
• roots (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• adopts
• uses
• embraces
• takes on
• employs
• utilizes
• retains
• holds
• keeps
• holds back

5

as in spends

to use up carelessly

we lost a good hour while he tried to find his keys

Synonyms & Similar Words

• spends
• wastes
• squanders
• dissipates
• blows
• lavishes
• runs through
• throws away
• misspends
• consumes
• trifles (away)
• depletes
• fritters (away)
• fiddles away
• plays ducks and drakes with
• impoverishes
• exhausts
• indulges
• expends
• disburses
• overspends
• overindulges
• splurges
• shoots
• lays out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• conserves
• protects
• preserves
• saves
• economizes
• skimps
• scrimps
• hoards
• lays up

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of loses

If a contractor loses enough workers to delay a project, the demand for everyone else on that project can fall with them. — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026

One core argument is that because roster spots are fixed and because fall rosters are largely set by this point in the summer, an athlete from the class returning to college and taking a roster spot would harm the player who loses the spot. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 7 Aug. 2026

When an individual is sued by a debt collector and fails to appear, the individual loses the option to negotiate. — Elliot Raphaelson, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026

When reactors burn transuranic elements in a fast neutron spectrum, the remaining waste loses its high radioactivity much faster. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 7 Aug. 2026

And as Wagner was saying, Jason loses himself and becomes blind. — Mya Copeland, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026

As the family loses another beloved member, The Sopranos alums are grieving the death of Vincent Pastore. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 1 Aug. 2026

All the structure and discipline in the world won’t spare him from criticism if Michigan loses four games this year, which is a distinct possibility with a schedule that includes Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana and Oklahoma. — Austin Meek, New York Times, 31 July 2026

After one rejection too many, Grande loses her cool, grabs a chainsaw, and kills the hard-to-please audition panel. — Meg Walters, InStyle, 31 July 2026