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

What Wells-Wonsley most wanted to know—as any parent who loses a child under a cloud of uncertainty would—was how her son died. — Cristian Farias, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2026

Success loses some of its shine when your private world is absorbing all the strain. — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 25 Sep. 2026

In this summer’s record-breaking blockbuster, Bruce loses control and is unable to stop from transforming into the Hulk when his mind is controlled by Jean Grey (Sadie Sink). — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026

When government loses its focus on core responsibilities, everything else suffers. — Miami Herald Staff, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026

Historical voting patterns show that typically the party in power loses control of Congress. — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Their welcome offer is very competitive and gives you up to $1,000 in bonus bets if your first wager loses. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026

New characters are introduced, many interesting details are offered, yet the narration never loses its focus, every sentence adding to the characters’ mounting sense of powerlessness in the face of such a tragic death. — Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026

The vision of a puppet bird in flight loses a lot of its beauty when there’s a stage full of people milling about under it. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026