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

The president expressed concern that Hollywood is losing ground to Canada and other countries, and argued new federal tax incentives could bring the industry back to California. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 31 Aug. 2026

The losses were broad, with nearly every sector within the benchmark S&P 500 losing ground. — Damian J. Troise, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026

August had no shortage of turbulence for the market, but the S&P 500 and Nasdaq each posted a gain for the month after losing ground in July and June. — Damian J. Troise, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026

Somber postgame interviews have become the norm in recent weeks as Inter Miami is stuck in a rut, on a five-game winless streak and losing ground in the Supporters Shield race. — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026

Nike is losing ground to newer competitors, its products haven’t created the same excitement and consumers aren’t exactly eager to pay more for sneakers right now. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Yet in the global race to develop and commercialize advanced therapies, Europe has been steadily losing ground. — Kimberley Jane Barnes, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Hollywood is losing ground to technology platforms whose algorithms reward the loudest voices. — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 4 Aug. 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