Synonyms of losing

losing

verb

present participle of lose

1

as in missing

to be unable to find or have at hand

I always lose my keys

Synonyms & Similar Words

• missing
• forgetting
• misplacing
• mislaying
• passing over
• overlooking

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• having
• retaining
• keeping
• holding
• owning
• possessing
• enjoying
• occupying
• finding
• locating
• detecting
• tracking (down)
• running down
• scouting (up)
• scaring up
• descrying

2

as in dropping

to fail to win, gain, or obtain

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dropping
• forfeiting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• winning
• prevailing (over)
• nailing (down)
• conquering
• triumphing (over)

3

as in falling

to undergo defeat

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• falling
• faltering
• throwing
• missing
• failing
• bowing out
• taking the count
• forfeiting
• collapsing
• flopping
• striking out
• tanking
• flunking
• cracking (up)
• folding
• foundering
• washing out
• bombing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• winning
• prevailing
• conquering
• succeeding
• triumphing
• thriving
• flourishing
• prospering

4

as in dumping

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

• dumping
• discarding
• ditching
• unloading
• abandoning
• shedding
• rejecting
• scrapping
• removing
• eliminating
• jettisoning
• tossing
• exorcising
• casting (off)
• chucking
• sloughing (off)
• flinging (off or away)
• throwing away
• junking
• shucking (off)
• disposing of
• dismissing
• laying by
• deep-sixing
• throwing out
• sluffing (off)
• eighty-sixing
• setting aside
• forsaking
• abdicating
• pitching
• deserting
• cashiering
• eradicating
• abolishing
• kicking out
• expunging
• annihilating
• extinguishing
• wiping out
• exterminating
• extirpating
• liquidating
• stamping (out)
• rooting (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• adopting
• using
• embracing
• employing
• utilizing
• retaining
• holding
• keeping
• taking on
• holding back

5

as in spending

to use up carelessly

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• spending
• wasting
• squandering
• dissipating
• blowing
• running through
• throwing away
• lavishing
• trifling (away)
• misspending
• frittering (away)
• fiddling away
• depleting
• consuming
• playing ducks and drakes with
• exhausting
• impoverishing
• disbursing
• overspending
• indulging
• expending
• splurging
• overindulging
• shooting
• laying out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• conserving
• protecting
• preserving
• saving
• economizing
• skimping
• hoarding
• scrimping
• laying up

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of losing

This is good energy for planning a date, creative project, or one-on-one conversation that needs structure without losing spark. — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2026

Former Miss North Carolina USA Brittany Boltinhouse is breaking her silence about losing her title weeks after winning the state pageant. — Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026

Hotels are also likely to feel the pain of losing experienced workers, said Wendi Walsh, secretary-treasurer of Unite Here - Local 365, a union that represents hotel and airport workers. — Miami Herald, 8 Aug. 2026

The losing quarterfinal teams play on Thursday for a spot in an intercontinental playoff. — ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026

Despite losing that bellwether, Meta continued to press the DSM argument in its filings in federal court. — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026

After all, Femi, after losing once to Lesnar, has no business losing to anyone else on WWE’s roster anytime soon. — Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

Those allegations had resulted in her losing custody of her children long before the shooting. — Isabel Rosales, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026

The Buckeyes fell short of expectations in 2025, losing in the Big Ten championship game to Indiana and in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals to Miami. — Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026