loss

noun

ˈlȯs How to pronounce loss (audio)
Definition of lossnext
1
as in absence
the act or an instance of not having or being able to find he was upset over the loss of his wedding ring

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2
as in victim
a person or thing harmed, lost, or destroyed the platoon was able to accomplish its reconnaissance mission without any losses

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3
as in defeat
failure to win a contest we're discouraged by our loss on Friday, but we're training hard for next week's game nevertheless

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4
as in decrease
the amount by which something is lessened was determined to stay on the diet until he showed a loss of 10 pounds

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5
as in deprivation
the state of being robbed of something normally enjoyed her loss of sleep meant that she would have trouble concentrating at work the next day

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6
as in destruction
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless the loss of the oil tanker was more significant than the loss of its cargo

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of loss The one previous loss on his record was a knockout in less than a minute against the similarly unheralded Marcos Antonio Aumada in 2022. — ABC News, 11 July 2026 After a listless loss in their first match back after the summer break, the Orlando Pride came into Friday night’s game against Kansas City desperate to right the ship. — Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2026 Yet the shares lost roughly twice that in a single session, suggesting the market reaction reflected more than just the loss of one drug, which was intended to treat a rare heart disease. — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 11 July 2026 But without treatment, cyclosporiasis symptoms can linger for more than a month, including watery bowel movements, explosive diarrhea, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. — Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 11 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for loss
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loss
  1. absence
  2. victim
  3. defeat
  4. decrease
  5. deprivation
  6. destruction
  7. lack
  8. fatality
Noun
  • Their absence from the London leg of the trip now raises questions about whether a family reunion will happen during the visit.
    — Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026
  • The report argues that the museum has deemphasized America’s founding, noting the absence of major exhibits devoted to the Founding Fathers or key events of the American Revolution as the country marks its 250th anniversary.
    — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Definition of absence
Noun
  • Brown’s wife was Bruneau’s best friend at the time of the victim’s death, and both women worked as flight attendants for Braniff Airlines, a Grapevine police detective wrote in an arrest warrant affidavit filed in June.
    — Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026
  • Numerous victims have said that their names and other sensitive information were not properly redacted in the files and criticized Blanche and the department for failing to investigate Epstein’s potential co-conspirators.
    — Ben Wieder, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
Definition of victim
Noun
  • This ongoing divide is a recipe for frustration at best and unthinkable defeat at worst.
    — Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 16 July 2026
  • The legal defeat meant the administration had to send refunds to importers that had paid the levies.
    — Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 16 July 2026
Definition of defeat
Noun
  • Within the goods category, gasoline tumbled 12%, accounting for about two-thirds of the monthly decrease.
    — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 15 July 2026
  • While this natural decrease is not unique to Florida, its social, economic and demographic impacts may be more pronounced if the state is no longer a migrant magnet.
    — Matt Brooks, Fortune, 15 July 2026
Definition of decrease
Noun
  • Sleep deprivation strips away that capacity, often resulting in erratic outbursts or defensive behaviors that dismantle trust instantly.
    — Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • High doses of creatine helped people with sleep deprivation perform better.
    — Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 3 July 2026
Definition of deprivation
Noun
  • Growing concerns over wildfire preparedness The destruction of Collins has renewed questions about whether Ontario’s wildfire strategy is keeping pace with increasingly intense fire seasons.
    — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • Two Democratic lawmakers have introduced a bill to protect federal artworks, including New Deal-era masterpieces, from possible sale or destruction.
    — Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of destruction
Noun
  • The report included the lack of antimissile capabilities in the new aircraft, a Boeing 747-8 that was donated by the government of Qatar and later retrofitted.
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 16 July 2026
  • Despite its lack of cutting-edge lithography machines, the incredible imbalance between supply and demand was enough to prompt it to enter the space.
    — Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 16 July 2026
Definition of lack
Noun
  • The majority of these strikes happen during the summer, causing around 20 fatalities each year, according to the NWS.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 12 July 2026
  • Police in the post said the incident resulted in one fatality.
    — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 11 July 2026
Definition of fatality

Phrases Containing loss

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losing (to)
loss
losses
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Cite this Entry

“Loss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loss. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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