Synonyms of losing ground

losing ground

phrase

present participle of lose ground

as in retreating

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

• retreating
• withdrawing
• falling back
• giving way
• pulling out
• backing away
• giving ground
• dropping back
• retiring
• receding
• fleeing
• evacuating
• flying
• pulling away
• backing down
• climbing down
• bowing out
• leaving
• shrinking
• recoiling
• chickening (out)
• flinching
• detaching
• departing
• going
• abandoning
• backtracking
• disengaging
• disentangling
• vacating
• backpedaling
• quitting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• advancing
• facing
• confronting
• daring
• defying
• breasting
• braving
• brazening
• outbraving
• bearding

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of losing ground

In contrast, European countries are losing ground, with access to 70% or less of novel drugs, often with delays of a year or more. — Roderick Wong, Fortune, 25 July 2026

This is why the brands that ran one strong press cycle two years ago and then stopped are losing ground inside the engines right now, even when their products are still excellent. — Ronn Torossian, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Others risk losing ground as AI gets trapped in pilots that never scale, widening the performance gap between early adopters and laggards – and creating a new digital divide inside every industry. — Nigel Vaz, Time, 20 July 2026

Burns was losing ground quickly on the front nine with three straight bogeys, none more damaging than a pitch to the reachable par-four fifth hole that went over the back of the green. — Doug Ferguson, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026

Burns was losing ground quickly on the front nine with three straight bogeys, none more damaging than a pitch to the reachable par-4 fifth hole that went over the back of the green. — Doug Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2026

His remarks reflect a desire by the administration to bolster the US’ nascent open-source industry, which is increasingly concerned about losing ground to China. — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 15 July 2026